Water Shortage in Europe: Debate Over Consumption and Stricter Rules

The situation is also acute in Ireland: Since last night, a six-week "Water Conservation Order" - colloquially known as a "garden hose ban" - has been in effect in Dublin and parts of eastern Ireland. Among other things, using a garden hose to water gardens, washing cars, or filling large swimming pools is prohibited. Ornamental ponds and fountains may not be supplied with tap water; fish ponds are exempt. The state-owned Irish water utility Uisce Éireann cites dwindling reserves in rivers and reservoirs as the reason.

In the greater Dublin area, up to 693 million liters have recently been consumed daily - about 50 million more than average. Nationwide, private water consumption is around 20 percent above normal levels. However, the authorities are initially "auf die Einsicht und das verantwortungsbewusste Handeln der Menschen", according to municipal associations.

Situation in Ireland and Great Britain

The German Association of Cities (Deutscher Städtetag) sees water scarcity as a growing problem in Germany as well. According to the association, around 80 municipalities now have to issue so-called general orders in every heat summer. Chief Executive Christian Schuchardt told the Funke media group's newspapers: "Früher galt Wasser in Deutschland vielen als unbegrenzte Ressource. Dem ist nicht mehr so." Although water supply remains secure, the federal and state governments should ensure uniform extraction fees.

This is explicitly not about private households, but about commercial water extraction. Fees for commercial, industrial, and agricultural use would need to create an incentive to save. The German County Association (Deutscher Landkreistag) also defended municipal restrictions. President Achim Brötel told the Funke newspapers: "Hitze- und Trockenperioden nehmen in vielen Regionen zu. In solchen Situationen müssen auch private Komfortverbräuche, etwa das Befüllen von Pools, kritisch hinterfragt werden."

Demands from the Municipalities

Britta Haßelmann, parliamentary group leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, called for more binding commitments: "Unternehmen, die viel abpumpen, müssen auch Verantwortung übernehmen." Rules for water extraction should be standardized nationwide. "Trinkwasser für Menschen muss immer Vorrang haben. Es ist keine Ware wie jede andere."

The problems are not limited to Germany. France has been broadly affected by drought following the third heatwave. Restrictions exist not only in the south, but also in the border-near department of Moselle, where the prefect imposed restrictions until the end of August. In Italy, regions such as Tuscany and Lazio have banned the use of tap water from pipes for private gardens, pools, or washing down courtyards and cars.

Other European Countries with Restrictions

Switzerland is also responding to the drought. Residents with even house numbers in the municipality of Coldrerio in the canton of Ticino may only water flower beds on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while those with odd numbers may do so on three other days. Potted plants and small house gardens are exempt. In the Emmental in the canton of Bern, the riverbed of the Fankhusbach has dried up.

Observers see the measures as a new dimension in how Europe deals with water. Similar measures already exist in Bavaria, France, Italy, and Switzerland. Germany's municipal umbrella organizations are pushing to permanently anchor these regulations beyond individual heat summers in order to be able to act more quickly in the future.

Open Questions and Outlook

It remains unclear whether the demand for nationwide uniform extraction fees is politically viable. Schuchardt had emphasized that private households are explicitly not the target of the fees. Consumer centers and environmental organizations have so far been involved primarily through educational campaigns on the careful use of water in everyday life.