Germany's long-term potential water availability is 176 billion m³ a year, measured over 1991–2020. In the dry year 2020, renewable resources fell to 116 billion m³, about two-thirds of that mean. The headline national figure, a water exploitation index of 10.1% in 2022, is calculated against the long-term average, not against a dry year.
The groundwater signal
About 70% of Germany's drinking water comes from groundwater and springs. Over 2019–2021, groundwater levels in northern Germany sat below the long-term mean of lowest levels for more than 8.5 months a year. UBA reports a statistically significant decline in groundwater availability over 2011–2020. Of 1,291 groundwater bodies, 62 fail good quantitative status, mainly through saline intrusion in the Warnow/Peene basin.
Peaks, not totals
Public water supply abstracted 5.3 billion m³ in 2022, down from more than 6.5 billion m³ in 1991. The pressure comes in summer: household demand can rise by up to 60% on hot days, enough to overload hydraulic systems sized for average use. Energy supply remains the largest abstractor, at 6.9 billion m³ in 2022, almost all of it for cooling.
No new sources on the horizon
Germany is not turning to new water. Its only seawater desalination plant supplies the island of Helgoland. EU rules on water reuse have applied since 26 June 2023, but national legal adjustments are still pending and only a few reuse cases exist. A guideline for dealing with water scarcity remains an action of the 2023 National Water Strategy, with a status report planned for 2027.
Which regions and sources are most exposed, how reservoirs and bulk suppliers add security, and what utilities and Länder should prioritise are set out in the full brief. The full report, Water Security and Supply Outlook in Germany, is available for USD 249. For a free overview, see Germany Country Snapshot.