"Trees are stressed": groundwater levels continue to fall

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Bavaria's Environment Battles Dryness as Groundwater Levels Plummet

An unwelcome trend has been observed in Bavaria - groundwater levels have been declining relentlessly for almost a decade, reaching a new low in 2023, according to Benjamin Kopp, an employee of the Groundwater Protection Department at the Bavarian State Office for the Environment. The issue is of considerable concern, with potential impacts on the region's agricultural lands and flora.

The climate shift in Bavaria has brought about more extreme weather events, says Kopp. 2023 witnessed a dry January and February, a very wet April, a dry June, an extremely wet August, a dry September and October, and an extremely wet November. This unpredictable pattern can wreak havoc on groundwater levels, leaving less water to seep through the soil and replenish the reserves.

Additionally, the warmer temperatures dampen the overall water balance, explained Kopp. Heat waves make it easier for the atmosphere to absorb water, leading to more evaporation and runoff as a result of heavy rainfall. This leaves the soil thirstier, although November's unusually heavy rains provided some relief.

The situation in Bavaria echoes the experience of professor Jörg Drewes, a specialist in urban water management at the Technical University of Munich. In his assessment, the groundwater is currently tensed, making it impervious to the impact of individual rain events, even prolonged ones. This leaves the source of the region's drinking water, predominantly spring catchments and wells, vulnerable to periods of drought.

Climate change also contributes to the death of trees in some regions of Franconia and causes trees to shed their leaves early or produce brown leaves before autumn. As this trend continues, it's likely that springs will occasionally dry up and trees will suffer further. In highland regions relying heavily on spring discharges, like the Bavarian Forest or the Allgäu, this could potentially compromise the local drinking water supply.

According to past records, around 4,500 spring catchments and 4,300 wells are currently used to supply drinking water in Bavaria, covering nearly 80% of the overall demand. While water can be transported from regions with ample water supplies to those in need, meeting the region's stipulated and more sustainable water requirements may prove challenging.

To address these issues, experts like professor Drewes emphasize the need for improved monitoring and management of groundwater extraction. The decline in groundwater levels, in part, stems from the increasingly extreme weather events that challenge water resources management in the region.

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