Overview

• On the hottest day this year, Berlin’s network received 880,000 cubic meters of drinking water, the highest daily volume recorded in 2024.
• Household consumption can double on heatwave days, driving demand well above the annual average.
• Citywide groundwater extraction surpasses the 20 percent recharge guideline and exceeds 40 percent in southeast Berlin.
• Berlin relies entirely on local aquifers for its water supply and has no alternative sources in place.
• Higher withdrawal rates are producing more wastewater that treated plants cannot restore to fresh-water quality, increasing ecological strain.