Overview

• An ISOE survey commissioned by BUND shows that in 201 of 401 districts more water is drawn than can be replenished by rainfall.
• In 94 districts water tables have plunged to record lows, signalling acute stress in both rural and urban areas.
• Private withdrawals for irrigation, mining and industrial cooling account for a large share of demand while over half of groundwater serves municipal drinking supplies.
• Repeated droughts and extreme weather linked to climate change have accelerated the depletion of underground reservoirs.
• Officials in Wolfenbüttel have banned surface-water pumping and limited daylight groundwater irrigation to safeguard dwindling reserves.