The day after the ban on water conservation was introduced, Munich residents consumed less drinking water. Consumption fell to below 330 million liters on Wednesday and thus returned to the average range, a spokesman for the municipal utility said in response to a question from the German Press Agency.
However, during the hot days of late June, consumption was about 400 million liters a day – after an unusually dry spring in which little potable water was produced. To save water, the city of Munich issued a general decree on Tuesday. Since then, it has been prohibited to fill private swimming pools, water lawns and pump water from lakes and rivers. Violations may result in a fine of up to 50,000 euros.
The order also applies to seven nearby communities that are also supplied by Munich’s municipal utilities: Aschheim, Garching, Neubiberg, Neuried, Oberschleissheim, Unterföhring and Unterhaching.
The decline in consumption “certainly shows a change in consumer behavior,” a spokesman for the municipal utility said. However, he clarified: “We cannot understand in detail to what extent this is due to the regulations of the general decree or to the decrease in demand due to isolated rainfall.”
Therefore, the city’s water conservation working group will continue to closely monitor further developments in water consumption and the water production situation “to determine whether measures should be adjusted if necessary.” According to the city, the bans will remain in effect until Aug. 1 unless they are lifted before then. An extension is possible if the drought continues.