The District of Harz in Central Germany Has Restricted Water Extraction From Local Rivers and Lakes Due to Extremely Low Water Levels

Starting Tuesday, the removal of surface water is prohibited, and groundwater extraction for irrigation purposes is limited. The restrictions will remain in effect until the end of September, according to the district administration. Following low rainfall in the first half of the year, particularly in the Harz foothills, water levels in the district's waterways have dropped significantly.

At the beginning of August, 16 out of 20 measuring stations recorded critically low levels. The district warned that persistent low water could cause lasting damage to organisms and plants living in and around the waters, threatening to overburden the streams and rivers. This development comes amid a broader heatwave affecting Germany, which has also led to the discovery of a World War II bomb in the Rhine River near Cologne due to low water levels. Additionally, 261 people have drowned in German waters this year, and a hot week in June was linked to 9,600 heat-related deaths across the country.