Water shortage in Leipzig: Are New Zealen really to blame?

Water shortage in Leipzig: Are New Zealen really to blame?

In the south of Leipzig, a unique lake landscape, which is known as the New Zealand, extends. The larger waters include the Zwenkauer, Cospudener, Markkleeberger and Störmthaler See. These areas are created from flooded remaining holes from the former lignite mining. While a listener from Leipzig raised the question of whether the lakes are responsible for the low rainfall in the region, it turns out that the answer is more complex than expected.

according to MDR, Leipzig is one of the driest regions in Germany. Sebastian Balders from the German Weather Service emphasizes that the low mountain ranges in the area, including the Erzgebirge and the Thuringian Forest, hold rainfall from the west. Weather data illustrates that there has been a deficit of precipitation in the past five years, but this cannot be associated with the lakes in the New Zealand. Andreas Marx, Hydro-meteorologist at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, explains that the lakes only influence the microclimate and have no direct influence on the precipitation.

insight into the microclimate

The proximity to the lakes leads to lower temperatures and a higher relative humidity, which does not mean that the lakes "steal" the rain. This assumption is often based on human perceptions, especially during the summer months, when there are small -scale thunderstorms, which occasionally create a wrong idea of ​​the rain distribution.

Nevertheless, the situation for Leipzig is worrying. There has been great drought in the region in recent years. Data show that the average precipitation in 2021 was significantly below the comparison period. According to L-II, the precipitation deficit of the past five years is about two years. This drought already has a significant impact on flora and fauna as well as urban planning. The open -cast venue holes have to be flooded with water to stabilize the embankments. One example is the Zwenkauer See, which fights with high sulfate values ​​and is therefore considered sour.

water management in upheaval

The removal of water from the Elster to stabilize the Zwenkauer See is only permitted if the river flow is above 6 m³/sec. Falling water levels in the lakes increase the sulfate content and thus also the water problem. The LMBV plans to process the timetiestholes based on the hydrological conditions of the 20th century, which could prove to be problematic in view of the change in rainfall.

In addition, the planned rapid exit from the open -cast mine in Saxony is a challenge, as this could further restrict the availability of water in the region. A rethink in the water management is considered necessary to ensure the quality of the water resources. A look into the future is dark: in about 20 years of age, Leipzig could still have forests, but the riparian forest could be a thing of the past. This could affect all those who are dependent on the unique nature of the region.