Hitze: Verstoß gegen Gießverbot kann Eigentümer bis zu 50.000 Euro kosten

Many gardens are suffering due to the hot and dry summer, with some trees already showing brown leaves. Consequently, it is likely that garden owners are turning to their hose or sprinkler. However, beware! In some cities, this is currently prohibited. For example, the Cologne district government bans the extraction of water from streams and rivers using pumps.

The ban remains in effect until the end of September, with violations facing fines of up to 50,000 Euros. The reason for the ban is the prolonged drought in the region, as stipulated by the Water Management Act, which allows local government areas and municipalities to limit both irrigation and the extraction of water from water bodies such as rivers and lakes.

The aim is to promote sustainable use of water resources among residents. This summer has seen little rainfall, with July registering an average precipitation of 43.7 millimeters, roughly half of the average for the period 1991-2020 (87.2 millimeters). At the same time, the average temperature was relatively high, around 20 degrees compared to the long-term average.

The result is that the soil dries out, and water levels in lakes and rivers fall to critical levels. The Rhine, one of the country's most important shipping routes, is reaching record low levels, impacting industry and agriculture, which may face significant crop losses. Local governments and municipalities are therefore taking drought measures to reduce water consumption.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, for instance, 13 of 53 districts restrict water use, while nine districts have a ban on irrigation. Many homeowners may not be aware that even the watering of their gardens, filling of pools, or extraction of water from private wells are regulated. The specifics depend on the details of the regulations from each authority.

For example, Munich limited water usage for tree and shrub watering in private gardens between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. up until August 1st, while allowing watering of lawns and green spaces, excluding sports fields. The water usage in Munich has since dropped from over 400 million liters per day to 330 million liters daily, according to local city utilities (SWM).

The city has therefore not extended the irrigation ban beyond August 1st, except for drip irrigation systems, which are exempt from the ban. In some regions, water-saving systems like drip irrigation are not subject to the prohibition. Water is delivered directly to individual plants via pipes, and drought-resistant plants can be specifically exempted.

Additionally, drip irrigation systems can be controlled digitally, watering them during the times of day with the least evaporation, usually early in the morning. This reduces water consumption for the garden. In the Hannover region, only sprinklers and lawn mowers are prohibited, not drip irrigation. In Munich, drip irrigation is allowed for beds but not for lawns.

In most municipal and district regulations, water-saving irrigation systems are not mentioned, so drip irrigation is generally not permitted. Homeowners should inquire with the relevant authorities, as drip irrigation is typically not allowed. Showering may seem like a more efficient way to conserve water, but it is less controllable and would infringe on personal freedom because most water consumption in private households is due to bathing, showering, or personal hygiene.

Therefore, it is more beneficial to limit private water consumption voluntarily to avoid bans or at least mitigate them. Homeowners can collect rainwater in barrels or cisterns for garden watering, as drinking water would be far too valuable for this purpose. This article first appeared in WirtschaftsWoche. For more information, see "Which cities are exemplary in heat protection - and which are lagging behind".