National Water Strategy: With a drought strategy

Today the cabinet is about the national water strategy. Various measures are intended to help ensure that Germany is not left stranded. The past years of drought have shown that there is little time.

Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) is visibly proud that she has now succeeded in developing Germany’s first national water strategy. In the past few months, her department, in coordination with the other ministries, has developed a plan to secure the water supply in Germany for the coming decades.

“In the course of the climate crisis, we are realizing that we have to be more careful with our water,” says the minister in an interview with the ARD Capital Studio. At the same time, she emphasizes that it is not just about saving water individually. It’s important, no question. Germany’s cities and regions would have to permanently adapt to the increasingly difficult circumstances.

“Clear expectations” of cabinet colleagues

Recently, temperatures of over 40 degrees, dried up rivers and streams and dried up fields have made one thing clear: A functioning water system is essential for the survival of animals, plants and people. Lemke’s predecessor Svenja Schulze (SPD) already wanted a water strategy, but nothing came of it.

Only now have all ministers agreed on a plan. Lemke is counting on her colleagues in the cabinet to help implement it. She has “clear expectations”.

More green space, less sealed soil

The strategy contains a whole bundle of measures. Among other things, diseased forests and green spaces are to be restored and concreted areas are to be unsealed. More nature also in the metropolitan regions.

Sponge city concept

Germany will change, will have to change, also visually, Lemke is certain and is orienting her plans to the concept of the sponge city. Lemke explains that the sponge city is about creating water reservoirs in populated areas as well. In addition to natural reservoirs, she also has technical ones in mind, such as cisterns.

Basically, the water resources in Germany are sufficient, the water supply works, Lemke reassured. At the same time, she emphasizes that there are major regional differences. In recent years, Brandenburg and Saxony, among others, have suffered from massive water shortages.

race against time

Environmental experts have been complaining for years that the federal government must develop a strategy to counteract the impending dehydration. Little has happened. The pressure from those who use a lot of water, such as the energy sector, may also be too great. Nuclear power plants devour huge amounts of water for cooling, and dealing with groundwater in opencast mining is similarly problematic.

In the future, it should be technically possible to have an overview of where and how much water is available throughout Germany. With the help of a register in which, for example, the occurrence of groundwater is recorded. Long-distance water pipes could be used to supply drier regions with water. This is also a central component of the national water strategy. The federal government hopes to be prepared just in time for the coming drought phases. Without question: a race against time.