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Water withdrawal is now completely prohibited in the Schwalm-Eder district!
Schwalm-Eder-Kreis now prohibits the withdrawal of water from bodies of water due to drought. Details available online.
Water withdrawal is now completely prohibited in the Schwalm-Eder district!
In Hesse, the ongoing drought is causing worrying measures. The district committee of the Schwalm-Eder district decided today, July 13, 2025, to prohibit the withdrawal of water from all surface water bodies. This affects streams, rivers and lakes throughout the district - with one exception: the Eder and the Fulda below the mouth of the Eder are not affected NH24 reports. This measure became necessary because the water levels in the waterways are alarmingly low and are therefore endangering natural habitats.
The decision was not an easy one, but the fact that there is no lasting change in the weather in sight led to this drastic step. Groundwater levels have not yet recovered and rainfall levels are well below average. This significantly increases the risk of disruption to the ecosystem, the district administration explained. How Neuental adds, residents must forego water from adjacent bodies of water unless they apply for a special, revocable permit. This can be granted in exceptional cases if the public interest or undue hardship can be proven.
Legal basis and exceptions
The legal basis for this order lies in the Water Resources Act, in particular in Section 100 Paragraph 1. This regulation enables the authorities, especially in times of crisis, to take protective measures to preserve water resources. Owners and entitled persons of adjacent properties are also affected by this prohibition.
The complete general order can be viewed on the Schwalm-Eder-Kreis website, and citizens are called upon to find out about the current situation and possible exceptions. It remains to be seen how the weather conditions will develop in the coming weeks and whether water levels can return to normal.