Water crisis in Bavaria: Drought threatens our waters!

Water crisis in Bavaria: Drought threatens our waters!

In 2025, as reported by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU), the hydrological situation in Bavaria will be challenging and makes it clear that water scarcity has become an urgent problem. The annual hydrological report published today states that the hydrological year 2025 was characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall compared to previous years. The period from November 1st, 2024 to October 31st, 2025 shows a Bavaria-wide precipitation deficit of 23 percent in Upper and Lower Bavaria and 11 percent in Middle Franconia.

The water levels in the river areas were particularly noticeable, as they were often below average. In some places, the lowest average annual flows in decades were even measured. Despite a slight recovery in groundwater levels at the beginning of 2025, this positive development was reversed over the course of the year. At the end of the year, the report shows average groundwater conditions, particularly in the Munich gravel plain and the Swabian and Franconian Jura.

An increasingly pressing problem

The problem of water scarcity is not just a Bavarian phenomenon, but is also receiving increasing attention worldwide, especially due to the climate crisis. The Heinrich Böll Foundation's Water Atlas 2025 highlights that overuse and pollution in particular endanger water resources. In Germany, droughts and falling water levels in rivers are becoming more and more common. A survey shows that 87% of Germans recognize the need to pay more attention to water, although only 2% see the water crisis as the most pressing problem. The focus here is often on other challenges such as climate change or migration.

Poor countries are particularly affected, as water shortages and extreme weather events increase poverty and migration. In Europe, San Marino was the first country to declare a water emergency in 2024. There were also water shortages in Mallorca due to extreme heat. This development is forcing cities to find new approaches to flood protection and to promote natural water cycles.

Future-oriented solutions

In order to meet the challenges of water scarcity, the WADKlim research project was launched. There are specific recommendations for action on sustainable water management, which are part of the German adaptation strategy to climate change. The causes of water scarcity are complex: climatic conditions, water quality problems and increasing water withdrawals for agriculture are exacerbating the situation. Political decision-makers and stakeholders are called upon to integrate solution strategies into their decisions.

There is an urgent need to make water use more transparent. To this end, it is proposed to record irrigation quantities centrally and to use standardized indicators to compare studies. Even in urban areas, reusing water to irrigate green spaces can be a step in the right direction.

Despite the challenges, there are also solutions such as the sponge city concept, which promises sustainable water management. This also includes the renaturation of moors and floodplains, which act as valuable habitats and can help stabilize water resources.

In summary, it can be said that water availability is under pressure in many regions of Bavaria and throughout Germany. In order to meet future challenges, political, infrastructural and social measures are urgently needed. Because water is not just a commodity, but the elixir of life for nature and people alike.