Saxon County Imposes Severe Restrictions on Water Withdrawal

The District Office of the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains district is prohibiting the withdrawal of water from surface water bodies effective immediately. According to the district, the general ruling takes effect immediately. The reason for this is the current drought. “Some smaller bodies of water have almost completely dried up,” according to a press release.

This means that the withdrawal of water from surface water bodies such as rivers and lakes is now prohibited. Restrictions have also been placed on filling private pools using the public drinking water supply and on watering gardens, among other things. The latter is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. The regulations will initially remain in effect through September 30 of this year.

Dams particularly affected

“The groundwater level—which has been declining for years—requires urgent protective measures,” the general order continues. Furthermore, no change in the situation is foreseeable for the time being. The reservoirs in particular are “in a difficult management situation due to insufficient winter filling and a deficit carried over from previous years.” According to the report, 75 percent of the district’s residents obtain their drinking water from reservoirs.