Munich imposes strict water bans amid heatwave, prompting nationwide restrictions
Record summer temperatures have triggered water‑conservation orders across Europe. In Dublin a six‑week “Water Conservation Order” bans garden hoses, while German cities enforce similar limits on garden irrigation, car washing, pool filling and fountain use. The German Städtetag warns that “earlier water was seen as an unlimited resource – that is no longer true.”
Munich’s mayor Dominik Krause announced a Generaldecree effective 14 July, prohibiting lawn watering between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., private pool filling, car washing outside commercial stations and the use of tap water for fountains. Daily consumption rose to about 360 million litres (the normal level is 300 million), and violations can attract fines up to €50 000. The order runs until at least 1 August and may be extended.
Other German municipalities—from Wallenhorst in Lower Saxony to several districts in Saxony‑Anhalt—have introduced water‑extraction bans or curbs on garden watering. The Deutsche Städtetag calls for uniform water‑extraction fees aimed at commercial users. In Austria, Hohenems reported a 50 % surge in water use and urged residents to stop filling pools. Together, these measures illustrate a coordinated response to severe drought conditions.