1. Water from the Spree is our drinking water
Nearly two-thirds of Berlin’s drinking water comes from bank filtration of the Spree and Havel rivers. The Spree is part of the public utility system—not a side issue, but the foundation of our drinking water supply.
Anyone who endangers the Spree endangers our drinking water.
2. Water from the Spree is becoming scarcer—and dirtier!
The Spree River is losing a significant amount of water due to the climate crisis:
- Prolonged heat waves lead to increased evaporation
- Increasingly frequent heavy rainfall runs off the surface instead of being absorbed into the ground.
- Berlin/Brandenburg is one of the regions in Germany with the lowest precipitation—groundwater levels have dropped dramatically due to the droughts of recent years.
- More irregular rainfall leads to increased water consumption by the population (which is growing steadily), agriculture, and industry.
At the same time, water quality is deteriorating:
- Iron hydroxide and sulfur sulfate from open-pit mines in Lusatia are entering the Spree; sulfate levels sometimes exceed the drinking water limit of 250 mg/l
- Pesticides from agriculture and pharmaceutical residues from the city are entering the water
- Every year, up to 7 billion liters of untreated mixed wastewater flow from Berlin’s sewer system into the Spree
Less water in the Spree means higher concentrations of pollutants—a risk to both people and the ecosystem.
Water and Coal – What Does Coal Mining in Lusatia Have to Do with the Spree River?
Artificially stabilized—and now under double pressure
Since the 19th century, groundwater has been pumped out on a large scale for lignite mining in Lusatia. Some of this water was diverted into the Spree. During dry summers, this artificial inflow accounts for a significant portion of the Spree’s current water volume. künstliche Zufluss einen erheblichen Anteil des heutigen Spreewassers aus.
Wichtig ist: Dieses Wasser ist kein natürlicher ZuflussIt is important to note: This water is not a natural inflow, but the result of a massively disruptive industrial practice that has damaged the regional water balance for decades. The Spree has thus been artificially stabilized—at the expense of groundwater, the landscape, and water quality auf Kosten von Grundwasser, Landschaft und Wasserqualität.
With the (long overdue) phase-out of coal in 2038, this artificial inflow will end. This highlights just how dependent the Spree has become on this historical misstep.
At the same time, the lignite mining company plans to fill the massive open-pit mines with water. The resulting large-scale lakes will lead to high evaporation. This water will be permanently lost to the river system.
As a result, the Spree is not only losing an artificial stabilizing factor—it is also losing water in the long run.
In the summer, the outflow could drop by up to a third, and in the long term, by even more.[1]
At the same time, the open-pit mine continues to have an impact: Until mining operations come to an end, the regional water balance will remain under strain, and the water in the Spree River will continue to be contaminated by iron and sulfate.
3. Water scarcity is a human-made problem!
So far, households have been urged to conserve water, not the corporations, which are the main culprits behind the water crisis. The debate over individual water conservation is a distraction.
The Spree River is being systematically overexploited—and the costs are being passed on to society and the natural environment, rather than holding corporations accountable.
Who is responsible?
The largest consumer of water in Brandenburg is the lignite industry, led by LEAG (Lausitz Energie Aktiengesellschaft, the lignite company in Lusatia).
The LEAG
- uses over 100 million cubic meters of groundwater annually
- discharges contaminated water into the Spree
- Do not pay any fees for water withdrawal
Pay at the same time:
- Households in Berlin: €1.81/m³
- Households in Brandenburg: €1.24–2.80/m³
While corporations profit, people pay the price—both financially and environmentally.