Munich bans non-essential water use with fines up to €50.000

The city of Munich has restricted residents’ use of drinking water for non-essential tasks. The restrictions will remain in place until August 1.

Munich restricts drinking water

Starting July 14, residents of Munich are forbidden from using drinking water to fill private swimming pools or to water lawns and gardens. Washing cars, terraces, walls, and other outdoor infrastructure, and pumping water from lakes and rivers are also forbidden. 

The ban applies in the city of Munich and seven surrounding municipalities, including Aschheim, Garching, Neubiberg, Neuried, Oberschleissheim, Unterföhring and Unterhaching.

Residents who break the ban face fines of up to 50.000 euros. The ban will remain in place until August 1, but may be extended if dry weather persists. Further information on which non-necessary tasks that use drinking water are forbidden can be found in the city’s press release (in German).

Why is Munich restricting drinking water?

More regular, intense heatwaves caused by climate change have made water shortages more common in Germany. During these heatwaves, demand for water increases significantly in a short time, causing water shortages. 

In the most recent heatwave, at the end of June, Germany’s all-time heat record was broken when 41,8 degrees was recorded in Möckern-Drewitz in Saxony-Anhalt.

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), from mid-June until the end of June, Bavaria recorded between 12 and 15 heat days (Hitzetage), days when temperatures reached 30 degrees celsius or more. Certain regions saw temperatures reach over 40 degrees.

According to DIE ZEIT, Munich’s average daily water use has recently increased from 300 million litres to 360 million litres per day. Following the recent heatwave, residents were urged to use drinking water more sparingly.

But authorities say the gentle nudge has not conserved supplies, and with little rain forecast, shortages are likely to persist.

Mayor Dominik Krause (Greens) appealed to residents to follow the new rules so groundwater levels can recover. “Water is our most precious resource; let us use it wisely,” Krause added.