Municipal austerity measures: No more water from rivers

Not only the extraction of groundwater for the drinking water supply of the city of Frankfurt, among others, is causing concern for many people, especially in the eastern part of the Main-Kinzig district.

Due to the persistent drought and high temperatures, surface water is now becoming scarce.

Therefore, the district administration has ordered that no more water may be pumped from rivers and streams.

The regulation applies indefinitely.

The reason given is the significantly lower water level in the watercourses.

According to the district, the headwaters of the Kinzig, Bracht and other tributaries to the Kinzig in particular carry too little water.

Luise Glaser-Lotz

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for the Main-Kinzig district.

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Permanently installed pumps and equipment on the banks must be dismantled immediately.

According to the district environmental department head Susanne Simmler (SPD), the water levels have been falling for weeks.

“For the beginning of the week at least precipitation was announced.

The small amounts that actually fell over the district area have not changed the worryingly low water levels," said the district councilor.

Low water levels were measured at almost all checkpoints.

There are few exceptions to the ban, for example for agriculture and for short-term water withdrawals to water plants for food production for personal use.

In principle, water use is permitted within the framework of so-called resident or owner use.

However, the prerequisites are no longer given given the current water levels.

According to Simmler, almost all water levels observed in the Main-Kinzig district are below the mean low water level and are therefore critical.

The situation is particularly threatening for the plants and animals that live in the water.

Pumping out water could exacerbate the situation.

Not enough water

The water withdrawal ban does not affect the Main-Kinzig district for the first time.

A corresponding general decree was last issued in 2020.

The situation had eased slightly in the past year, which is why the district initially left it at this year with urgent appeals to save water, as the press office reports.

In accordance with the region's municipal water suppliers, who have also pointed out falling levels and asked citizens for support, there are now strict guidelines for this summer again.

Anyone who violates the water withdrawal ban must expect fines.

The cities and municipalities, which report violations to the district, are responsible for the controls.

The wording of the general decree can be found online on the Main-Kinzig-Kreis website (

under "Public Announcements").

Before the Main-Kinzig district, other Hessian districts had already issued corresponding bans, including the Vogelsberg district.

Like the Main-Kinzig district, this district also supplies drinking water to the Rhine-Main area.

The headwaters of the streams and rivers there also currently have too little water.

The withdrawal ban coincides with the current disputes about groundwater withdrawal in the municipalities of Brachttal and Birstein on the edge of the Vogelsberg.

Despite falling groundwater levels, the Kinzig water association has applied to the regional council in Darmstadt to increase the amount of groundwater withdrawn in southern Vogelsberg, in some cases significantly, and to extend the funding period by 30 years.

The affected communities are fighting back because they fear negative consequences for nature and the environment.

District Administrator Thorsten Stolz (SPD) is also critical of the request, although the Main-Kinzig district is a member of the association alongside Hanau and Frankfurt.

In its statement on the approval process, the district advocates, among other things, shorter terms for funding approvals.

20 years should be the maximum.

In the eleven-point statement, the district committee suggests, among other things, more intensive monitoring of water pumping, continuous monitoring of the limit water ground levels and the protection of groundwater resources through more intensive treatment of surface water.

The district itself is treating the water in the Kinzig reservoir near Bad Soden-Salmünster.

A pilot plant will be set up there.

In addition, the district administrator demands that Frankfurt should also focus more on saving water and not rely solely on water supplies.

The city should reactivate and use more of its own wells and treat surface water more intensively.