Bavaria fights against heat: Save Straubing's water lever and drinking wells!

Bavaria fights against heat: Save Straubing's water lever and drinking wells!

July has moved in and with it the high temperatures that drive us the sweat beads on our forehead in the cities of Bavaria. In order to counter the heat, measures have been taken in many municipalities in recent years that are supposed to protect the population from extreme heat waves. The "heat protection plan" introduced in 2019 looks at it and offers a clever network of early warning systems and practical preventive measures. The focus is particularly on urban areas, because the temperatures there are often very different to endure than in the surrounding area. [Br.de reports] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/bayernsanti-hitze-massungen-spruehnebel- und-free-baeche.upma9fu) about the various strategies that are pursued in Bavaria to fight the heat.

In Straubing there is a very special pilot project that is supposed to serve as a pioneer for other cities. Here, two water lever systems were installed on the town square to offer passers -by a cool refreshment. Drinking water dispenser and newly created green areas with around 100 trees along the pull bridge trench ensure that the citizens can not only relax in the shade, but also always have a bathing fun in the form of water features at the Gäuboden folk festival.

cool heads in large cities

Nuremberg has also been committed to reducing the heat load. The city has already distributed 25 drinking water fountains and plans to install fast solutions such as water-air humidifiers. In the long term, the green spaces in the city are to be expanded and the buildings are greened.

But Munich is in no way inferior: With around 90 drinking water fountain and an interactive fountain card, the Munich team have many ways to cool off. Freising also became innovative and uncovered the Stadtbach, which not only ensures a pleasant cooling, but also serves as a meeting point for the citizens.

Unfortunately there are also fewer rigid reports from Lower Franconia. According to the German environmental aid, cities such as Würzburg, Aschaffenburg and Schweinfurt achieve moderate results at the “Hitze-Check”. Aschaffenburg is actively working on a heat action plan, while Schweinfurt is working on a concept to seal areas. A heat action plan has been implemented in Würzburg since 2023, which includes the repair of historical drinking fountains and the promotion of private tree plantings.

climate cake and coolness for everyone

In the whole discussion about heat and health, federal politics also plays a role. [Deutschlandfunk reports] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/hitzewelle-stadt-tipps- against-hitze-100.html) of a newly established heat protection plan, which primarily targets sensitive groups such as old people, pregnant and chronically ill. The Robert Koch Institute estimates that around 3,200 people died of the heat in Germany alone in Germany alone. This underlines the urgency of informing citizens about heat protection and providing them with the appropriate help.

Not only in Bavaria, but also in large cities such as Cologne or Stuttgart, current tips and advice are provided for citizens. There are also innovative solutions such as heat buses in Freiburg who offer homeless people in the midday heat.

Especially in these times it shows how important it is to act cleverly and use the available measures. The municipalities have to act individually in order to take into account the respective situation of the citizens in the best possible way and to increase the quality of life in our cities. If the temperatures continue to rise, it is necessary that we continue to work on a strong strategy to be able to counter the heat.