Brandenburg – a problematic case
Why is Brandenburg particularly affected by water shortages, Mads Pankow asked Irina Engelhardt. The region has comparatively low rainfall, she replied, a dry, continental climate, high summer temperatures — and high evaporation due to the evergreen coniferous forests. In addition, Brandenburg is a flat region that is not suitable for the construction of dams. The state is heavily dependent on natural lakes and rivers, which, however, repeatedly struggle with water shortages due to drought and insufficient rainfall. The result: water is a structurally scarce commodity here.
Water, society, and culture
Anna-Lisa Dieter focused on the social and cultural dimensions of the water issue. She spoke about the tension between science and activism – a topic that will also play a central role in the upcoming exhibition “On Water. WasserWissen in Berlin” at the Humboldt Forum.
An interdisciplinary team is currently working on granting the Spree river its own rights and legal dignity – analogous to the discussion about river rights in other parts of the world. Lawyers are examining how the preservation of the Spree habitat could be legally enforceable and represented in court.
How is the city of Berlin taking action?
Frauke Bathe described the current strategy of the Berlin administration: The focus is currently on communication, including via Berliner Wasserbetriebe, rather than on regulatory requirements.
Irina Engelhardt added that legal frameworks such as the Water Resources Act make it difficult to prohibit water extraction. Controlling pricing, on the other hand, is legally possible and has long been common practice in other countries.
The lively participation of the audience showed that the topic of water is of great interest. One of the questions was: How much water does agriculture actually consume? According to Engelhardt, this varies greatly: In northern Brandenburg, the share of water consumption is 20%, while in southern Brandenburg it is only 2.5%. However, with the goal of expanding regional agriculture, this demand will increase significantly.
Another topic: Why is rainwater – e.g., from roofs – not used more extensively?
Decentralized rainwater management is complex, according to Bathe. The city has no direct access to private properties. However, the issue is being actively addressed through the Rainwater Agency.
What are the possible solutions?
With its “Water Master Plan", the city of Berlin has presented a comprehensive strategy for responding to future challenges. The plan contains 32 measures, including:
– upgrading sewage treatment plants
– improving rainwater management
– unsealing surfaces
– and limiting water withdrawals
These are so-called “no-regret measures", explained Bathe – steps that are sensible and effective regardless of how the situation develops.
Research is also providing concrete approaches: Irina Engelhardt presented the principle of artificial groundwater recharge. This involves the targeted infiltration of heavy rainwater to replenish the groundwater table – with the aim of being able to use it again downstream. An effective and comparatively well-accepted measure, according to Engelhardt.
A complex issue that requires cooperation
The discussion highlighted the complexity of the future of water supply and the many social, political, and technical aspects that come into play.
“Water for everyone?” was not only the title of the evening – it was also an invitation to reflect together on responsibility, scope for action, and solutions for the future.