German Minister Warns of Water Conflicts; Frankfurt Project Aims for Sustainable Supply

Environment Minister Steffen Schneider told SPIEGEL that Germany will face serious water conflicts in the coming years, especially in Berlin and Brandenburg where the phase‑out of coal mining in Lusatia will eliminate an artificial inflow of groundwater to the Spree. He cited drying lakes such as the Seddiner See and noted local restrictions on water extraction already in place in several districts.

At the same time, a three‑year Fraunhofer‑led research project (WaRM) has modelled the water system of the Frankfurt/Rhein‑Main region and evaluated more than 200 potential measures. The plan prioritises using Rhine water for irrigation, expanding blue‑green infrastructure, and re‑using rain‑ and grey‑water to safeguard sustainable groundwater supplies amid rising demand and climate‑driven droughts.