Water shortage in Lower Saxony: Red alarm level for 21 counties!

Water shortage in Lower Saxony: Red alarm level for 21 counties!

Hannover, Deutschland - The situation in Lower Saxony is catering: more and more counties are affected by an acute hydropower. Almost every second district suffers from groundwater stress. A current study that the Institute for Social-E-Ecological research (ISOE) has created on behalf of the federal government makes it clear that the water supply in Lower Saxony is increasingly at risk. March 2025 was according to HNA the hottest since the start of the weather records, with a temperature increase of 2.4 degrees above the average. At the same time, the amount of precipitation only reached 21 percent of the usual value.

This is particularly alarming because Lower Saxony is one of the lowest rainfall regions in Germany. The study shows that 21 out of 45 counties are affected by the water shortage. In 15 of these counties, the situation is so serious that the lack of water can be described as acute. This applies, among other things, the districts of Cloppenburg, Vechta and Diepholz, where the groundwater levels have dropped significantly between 2012 and 2021. The main drive for this development are climatic changes, a growing population and economic activities.

The causes of the water shortage

But what is behind this dramatic lack of water? [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/in-fast-der-haelft-kommun-kommun-grundwasser-Knapp, groundwater knapp100.html) mentions the intensive agriculture in sandy floors and the commercial basic water use as the main reasons. In Lower Saxony, the majority of the groundwater are used for drinking water supply and agricultural irrigation. Industry, especially steel production in the Salzgitter district, also reaches deeply into the water resources.

measures and perspectives

experts urgently demand stricter measures to protect the groundwater. Counties like Wolfenbüttel have already taken the first steps to regulate water withdrawal. In Hanover, an irrigation ban for green spaces was introduced at temperatures of 27 degrees or more. Visitors to the area must therefore adapt to a changed landscape.

Lower Saxony also plans a master plan of water, which is to be published in the second half of 2025. The aim is to better adapt the water management to the effects of climate change. Federal Environment Agency reports on extensive adaptation measures and recommendations for action for more sustainable water use and minimizing future usage conflicts.

Overall, it can be seen that the challenges of the water shortage are complex. The long -term strategies to improve water supply must be tailored to the regional conditions. This is the only way to ensure that water is available for all user groups. Time is forced, because the climatic conditions do not stop before the next drought.

It remains to be hoped that both politicians and those affected have a good hand to get the water crisis under control and implement sustainable solutions.