(de-news.net) – Numerous regions across Germany are experiencing a significant decline in groundwater availability, with usage surpassing sustainable thresholds in 201 out of 401 districts and district-free cities, as reported in a study commissioned by the environmental association BUND and conducted by the Institute for Social-Ecological Research. The interrelation between groundwater reserves and consumption patterns is determined through hydrological calculations, particularly in the context of precipitation and recharge dynamics. Experts have raised concerns regarding the unsustainability of current extraction rates, citing long-term environmental repercussions.

Regions most acutely affected include the arid territories in the eastern part of the country, metropolitan areas along the Rhine, and specific zones within Lower Saxony. Furthermore, groundwater monitoring stations have recorded historically low levels across nearly all federal states.

According to the study’s findings, approximately 50% of Germany’s groundwater reserves are utilized for potable water supply. In major urban centers, this water is frequently transported over distances extending several hundred kilometers, with ferry-based conveyance serving as an integral component of the distribution infrastructure.