Insufficient rainfall occurred in Wuppertal during August
In the Wupper region of North Rhine-Westphalia, the past month of August has been marked by unusual weather patterns. While the sun shone for a significant 230 hours, a stark contrast to the average of 183 hours, the region saw little rainfall, with no new amounts reported for a stretch from August 6 to 21.
Despite the dry spell, the water levels of the three drinking water dams managed by the Wupper Association - the Big Dhünn Dam, Kerspe Dam, and Herbringhausen Dam - currently remain uncritical. This is due in part to the continued use of water from the Wupper, Bever, Brucher, and Lingese dams to ensure minimum water flow in the Wupper.
The decisions regarding the use of water from these dams are made by the local water management authorities, typically the regional water boards or environmental agencies.
The driest spot in August was Wuppertal-Beyenburg, which recorded only 35 liters, significantly less than the average of 84 liters. On the other hand, the highest rainfall of the month was recorded in Remscheid at the Linkläuern Straße measuring station, with a total of 72 liters. Other notable rainfall amounts include 12 liters at the Bever Dam and 16 liters at Wermelskirich-Lindscheid, while Solingen-Burg recorded 19 liters. The wettest day of the month was August 31, with 20 liters recorded in Wuppertal-Buchenhofen.
The average temperature in North Rhine-Westphalia was 18.3 degrees Celsius, significantly above the usual 16.6 degrees Celsius. In the middle of August, temperatures sometimes reached as high as 35 degrees Celsius.
The supply of raw water to the waterworks remains guaranteed, but the drought is reflected in the development of the water level. Steady rainfall is still welcome from the perspective of water management due to the drought of the past months. The discharge from the water supply dams is an important support for the sensitive ecosystem in the Wupper.
At various sewage treatment plants in the region, the recorded amounts differed from the usual averages. For instance, at the Solingen-Burg sewage treatment plant, 58 liters were recorded, with an average of 105 liters. At our website's measuring station, the sewage treatment plant in Buchenhofen, 67 liters were recorded, compared to the usual 97 liters. At the Bever Dam measuring station in Hückeswagen, 52 liters of rain per square meter were recorded in August, compared to the usual 105 liters.
The last days of August were significantly cooler, with nighttime lows sometimes dropping to values around 5 degrees Celsius. This cooler weather may have helped to alleviate some of the effects of the prolonged drought, but the region remains vigilant as the dry spell continues.
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