The droughts of recent years have led to more inquiries from well builders in eastern Germany.
The demand has tended to increase both in agriculture and among private individuals, said the chairman of the Drilling and Well Construction Association East, Peter Müller, the German Press Agency.
On the one hand, it is a question of creating new wells or deepening existing ones because of lower water levels.
On the other hand, wells aged faster due to stronger water fluctuations and would have to be renovated.
In rural areas in particular, there are often private service water wells.
If they are deepened, it must be reported to the authorities, Müller explained.
In the commercial sector, an approval procedure with an expert opinion is required for the new construction or expansion of wells - for example for the irrigation of fields in agriculture.
It is about the impact on water protection areas or other wells in the area.
The reason for this is that such wells usually draw far larger quantities of water than in the private sector.
In addition, it should be prevented that well owners dig up each other's water.
Because of the increased demand, interested parties would have to wait at least six months, sometimes even a year, explained Müller.
According to his information, his association based in Leipzig has around 40 members in East Germany.