From Friday 24 July, it is prohibited to to extract water from surface water bodies within the city of Chemnitz using mechanical equipment, such as pumps, pipes or hoses, or by hand-held containers, for personal use (by owners, residents and the general public). This applies up to and including 31 October 2026.
The City of Chemnitz has issued a general order to this effect, which comes into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette (Issue 30).
As there has been a lack of prolonged, heavy rainfall, and high air temperatures and strong sunshine prevail, water is evaporating at a faster rate than rainfall is occurring. Due to the rainfall deficit that has persisted since last year, water levels in the city’s watercourses are once again very low. Given the warm and dry weather, it is expected that water levels will continue to fall. There is no sign of the situation improving through substantial rainfall over a prolonged period.
Even minor water abstractions lead to a disruption of the water balance and a further significant reduction in water flow. This poses a risk of causing lasting disruption to the biocoenosis of standing and flowing waters. In other words, low water levels and rising water temperatures reduce the oxygen content of the water, thereby diminishing the water bodies’ self-purification capacity. This puts water-dependent plants and animals at risk. Algae proliferate, whilst fish and micro-organisms die.
The abstraction of water from surface water bodies significantly exacerbates this risk, meaning that such abstraction is no longer covered by the rights of owners, riparian users or public use. This applies even if sufficient water flow is still observed at individual abstraction points. Unregulated and unrestricted water abstraction threatens the flora and fauna in the water bodies and jeopardises the necessary natural self-purification process. It is also prohibited to dam up surface water bodies without a permit under water law and to construct structures in water bodies without authorisation.
For enquiries regarding the applicable water legislation, please contact the Lower Water Authority of the Environment Agency by telephone on 0371 488-3651 or by email at umweltamt.wasser(at)stadt-chemnitz.de.
www.chemnitz.de/av_wasserentnahme
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