Drought strains drinking water supply in Baden-Württemberg as Black Forest communities brace for shortages

Regional divide in water supply

Persistent heat and declining groundwater levels have made drinking water supply a pressing topic across Baden-Württemberg. Several providers say supply is largely secured, but regional differences are sharp. In large cities such as Stuttgart and Karlsruhe the situation is relaxed, while suppliers in higher elevations report possible bottlenecks.

Badenova, the supplier for large parts of southern Baden, reported sharply declining spring water flows. Communities in the Black Forest that rely predominantly or exclusively on spring water are particularly affected, the company said. Daily drinking water consumption has remained persistently high, a combination Badenova described as a "strained supply situation."

Preparations in the Black Forest

Badenova said it is preparing for possible supply bottlenecks, including the organisational preparation of water transports by truck. How the situation develops depends on further weather conditions and on the population's water consumption. Badenova has already called for economical water use, urging residents to avoid private garden watering, filling pools, and private car washing.

A few municipalities have already issued concrete conservation appeals, including Großerlach and Spiegelberg (both in the Rems-Murr-Kreis) and the town of Aichtal in the Landkreis Esslingen.

Cities rely on stable reservoirs

In Karlsruhe the situation is relaxed. Thanks to large groundwater reserves in the Oberrheingraben, Karlsruhe is well positioned even during longer heat periods, according to the city's utility company. Groundwater reserves were replenished during the past winter months, so there is currently no cause for concern. The currently high consumption values are neither unusual nor critical.

Stuttgart also considers itself securely supplied. Netze BW Wasser pointed to the Bodensee-Wasserversorgung and the Landeswasserversorgung as capable suppliers. A general call to save water is not technically necessary at present, even if hot weather continues. However, Netze BW recommends sensible use of the resource, noting that lawns do not need to be watered in heat and recover in autumn.

The Bodensee-Wasserversorgung, which supplies about four million people in the state, also gave the all-clear. The lake is a particularly stable storage compared to regional groundwater reserves: the extraction amount corresponds to only one percent of the inflow, significantly less than natural evaporation. The Zweckverband Landeswasserversorgung, which supplies about three million people in Baden-Württemberg and some communities in Bavaria, also said the situation is not strained. Groundwater levels are low but comparable to the dry summers of 2022 and 2023 and should recover over winter.

Long-term outlook less reassuring

The long-term picture is less relaxed. Already today, 21 percent of municipalities in the state show a large deficit at peak demand, according to the environment ministry, and by 2050 this share could rise to 53 percent.

Umweltministerin Thekla Walker (Grüne) warned that groundwater is at a historic low in some areas due to the prolonged drought. The state is therefore developing a "Strategie Sichere Wasserversorgung BW 2050" to address the mounting deficit.