Water should not be abstracted from water bodies (Kopie 1)

In light of the current drought, the Lower Water Authority of the Chemnitz City Environment Agency is appealing to all residents of Chemnitz to refrain from taking water from streams.

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Even minor water abstractions can have adverse effects on aquatic ecology. In such cases, the water abstraction is no longer covered by the rights of riparian users, owners or public use, and is therefore not permitted, even without a general ban on abstraction being imposed.

As has been the case on several occasions in recent years, water levels in Chemnitz’s water bodies are currently very low once again due to the persistent drought, intense sunshine and the associated exceptionally high temperatures. The State Flood Centre currently reports a discharge of less than 100 l/s at the Harthau gauge on the Würschnitz. Water levels and discharges are also very low on the Chemnitz and Zwönitz rivers.

Higher water temperatures and falling water levels – or even sections of watercourses drying up completely – are causing the death of aquatic micro-organisms as well as fish. Furthermore, the oxygen content of the water is falling, which reduces the water bodies’ ability to self-purify. If, in this situation, residents continue to withdraw water from these watercourses, the drought situation will worsen further.

For enquiries regarding current water legislation, please contact the Lower Water Authority of the Environment Agency by telephone on 0371-4883601 or by email at umwelt.wasser(at)stadt-chemnitz.de .

General Order issued by the City of Chemnitz