The Federal Environment Agency puts restrictions into play

Berlin The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) considers water intake restrictions possible in view of the drought. Legal tools for this are available. “Municipalities can issue so-called general decrees in the event of water shortages in order to restrict certain uses,” said Christoph Schulte, UBA Head of Water and Soil Division.

Water saving measures have always been a realistic scenario for the Association of Cities and Municipalities. “Climate change has reached the water supply,” Managing Director Gerd Landsberg told Handelsblatt. Regarding possible relief measures, he referred to last year, when heat and drought required additional measures in the region. “In individual provinces, water consumption has been restricted, for example by banning lawn spraying, filling swimming pools or washing cars.”