The river Spree is endangered - so is our drinking water!
The equitable distribution of water is crucial for our future. The Spree is more than just a river. It is a habitat, an ecosystem—and a source of drinking water for millions of people.
While households are being urged to save water, large corporations are consuming and polluting millions of cubic meters of water. That is unfair.
Water shortages, unfair distribution, and pollution threaten the Spree River and Berlin. We’re taking action now. Join us.
News
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Spree Action Day Information
Information about the place and the program
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Program Spree Actionday
the complete program
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Spree Event on June 13, 2026
On Saturday, June 13, we invite you to join us in sending a strong message under the slogan “Save our Spree,” alongside numerous initiatives, clubs, environmental organizations, research institutes, and art projects. The Spree is drying up and becoming increasingly polluted—yet we draw nearly two-thirds of our drinking water from it. While households are being urged to conserve water, …
About Us
Save Our Spree is an initiative dedicated to protecting the Spree River and Berlin’s drinking water. We want to ensure that the Spree has enough water in the long term—despite the climate crisis, rising consumption, and industrial overuse.
The Spree is a source of drinking water, an ecosystem, and a swimming area. It belongs to everyone—and must be protected as a foundation of life for both people and nature.
We are fighting for:
- the protection of the Spree as an ecosystem, a source of drinking water, and a public swimming area
- Water justice and the human right to clean drinking water
- democratic control of water as a public good
- the development of a strong water movement in Berlin and Brandenburg
Water is a human right - not for corporations
Water must not be treated as an economic factor that prioritizes industrial development and profits. Public water supply, the protection of ecosystems, and everyone’s right to clean drinking water must always take precedence.
In concrete terms, this means:
- People instead of profits – drinking water supply takes precedence over industrial use
- Ecosystems instead of growth-at-all-costs ideology – rivers, floodplains, and groundwater must not be exploited to the point of ecological collapse
- Democracy instead of secret deals – water rights must be allocated transparently and subject to democratic oversight
We demand binding democratic water councils in which civil society, local governments, water utilities, and environmental organizations have an equal say in decisions regarding:
- the granting of new water withdrawal rights
- Restrictions during water shortages
- Priorities among households, industry, and ecosystems
Water needs movement
Having enough clean drinking water is vital for Berlin. It is the foundation of health, daily life, and living in this city. If the Spree River comes under pressure, our drinking water supply is also at risk. This is not some abstract issue for the future—it is a political challenge that must be addressed now.
Join SOS Spree! Learn more about our campaign, get to know us, and come to our day of action on June 13.
We are an initiative, a learning hub, and a political space for water justice in Berlin & Brandenburg. For a Spree that belongs to everyone—and for enough drinking water for all.
Our Alliance
