Do I need to prepare for water shortages in Germany this summer?
While parts of southern Europe,
like Spain
, have seen entirely too much rain in recent weeks, Germany has been having one of the driest springs on record.
The lack of rain has meant a number of warm and sunny weekends early on this year – downright enjoyable weather for picnic goers and early spring hikers and campers. But it also means that Germany's arable land is parched, its rivers are running low and
wildfire risk
is already rising.
If the drought continues to intensify through the summer, some regions could see water resources run low by the end of the summer and the economic impacts would be significant.
How dry is it?
From the beginning of February to mid-April, Germany had not seen so little rainfall since 1931, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).
If May remains mostly rain-free, it could be the driest spring since weather records began in 1881.
DWD notes the driest spring to date was in 1893 when only 85.3 millimetres of precipitation fell. That's followed by the spring of 2011 with 89.5 millimetres.
In March and April of this year, 47.3 millimetres have fallen throughout Germany, and in May so far about 13 millimetres were added, according to DWD data. Without further precipitation, the total would add up to about 60 millimetres – a strikingly scarce amount of water.
Experts aren't calling it a record breaking drought just yet – some weather models are calling for increased precipitation toward the end of this month, and the verdict is out on whether this summer will bring further drought or maybe more intense rain.
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But no matter how you look at it, this year has been remarkably dry so far. It can be seen as yet another example of how human-caused climate change is intensifying weather extremes in Germany and around the world.
For many weeks, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig has been showing widespread drought in the topsoil up to a depth of 25 centimetres, especially in the north and east of Germany.
"It is not unusual for the drought monitor to go deep into the red for a short time,' said Andreas Marx, head of the German drought monitor at UFZ, 'But it is unusual for it to have been red for so long now."
Maps compiled by UFZ Drought Monitor based on data from the German Weather Service.
Where is affected?
As is seen in recent maps composed by the UFZ, virtually all of Germany is experiencing a rainfall deficit. But in parts of North Rhine Westphalia, Northern Hesse, Thuringia and Leipzig this was eased somewhat by recent rains.
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In a recent
interview with
Focus Magazine
, hydrologist Dr. Dietrich Borchardt, notes that currently regions in the Harz mountains, southern Hesse, Franconia and parts of Brandenburg are seeing exceptionally dry soils.
The lack of rain is also affecting Germany's lakes and rivers. Lake Constance, typically known to be a beautiful summer vacation spot, is currently extremely low, for example.
The Rhine River has also seen remarkably low levels this spring.
The Rhine serves as an important shipping lane for Germany and central Europe, and by mid-April cargo ships were only able to be loaded to half-capacity due to low water levels south of Duisburg and Cologne. Following some rainfall in April,
Reuters
reported that ships were able to up their carrying capacities again. But more sustained rainfall is needed to keep water levels up.
READ ALSO:
8 places in North Rhine-Westphalia to escape the heat this summer
According to Borchardt, scarcity in drinking water resources is not likely in most of the country, but there could be restrictions in some municipalities due to insufficient storage or pumping capacities.
Borchardt named Erkner, near Berlin, as one example of a place where there is an actual shortage of water resources.
Is there anything I should do to prepare?
A significant amount of Germany's water resources are used for 'drinking water'.
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), around 4.67 billion cubic metres of drinking water was used in 2022 – that's compared to 6.59 billion cubic metres that was used in the energy sector or just over three billion cubic metres that was used for chemical manufacturing.
Of the drinking water that was used, around 80 percent of it went to private households and small businesses, whereas around 20 percent went to large commercial buyers. So taking action to reduce your own water use can be a meaningful contribution to reducing water demand.
A view of the Rhine in Oberkassel with the old town in the background. The water level here is at an historic low. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Rolf Vennenbernd
When it comes to household water use, gardeners and pool owners use a lot.
Finding ways to irrigate your garden more efficiently – for example with drip irrigation – can make a big difference.
You may also consider how you plant and manage your garden. Whereas many gardeners sew sparse vegetable beds with lots of barren soil in between, it makes more sense to promote ground cover by planting more densely and use mulch or even allow weeds to fill in between.
You can also use hedges or trees for shade to prevent the sun from drawing too much water from the soil.
READ ALSO:
From swamp to sponge - Berlin harnesses rain to adapt to climate shift
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Also, Germany's Environmental Agency (
Umwelt Bundesamt
) recommends watering in the mornings or evenings instead of at midday.
Taking shorter showers instead of baths and investing in water saving appliances at home can also help reduce your use.
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