Munich has banned filling swimming pools and washing cars on the streets

City officials in Munich, Germany, have imposed strict water conservation measures due to the abnormal heat. Cars may now be washed only at car washes; lawns must remain dry; and pumping water from local bodies of water is strictly prohibited. 

Private pools, fountains, and other water features may no longer be filled, and public fountains in the city are being shut off. Watering city gardens, clubs, and ornamental plants is permitted only in the evenings and early in the morning. Violations of this city ordinance are subject to a fine of 50,000 euros.

The authorities took these drastic measures after previous appeals to residents to voluntarily conserve water proved ineffective. Mayor Dominik Krause stated that following an exceptionally dry winter and spring, Munich’s existing water supply resources are under extreme strain. The reason for the restrictions is a sharp increase in drinking water consumption, which currently stands at over 360 million liters per day compared to the usual 300 million liters, and even the forecasted rain is unlikely to remedy the situation.

This was reported by Bild.

As a reminder, Belgium has recorded a sharp rise in mortality amid a severe heat wave. According to the Sciensano public health institute, the excess mortality rate reached 47%—the highest figure since records began in 2000.

Earlier, average nuclear power generation in France fell below 33 GW, the lowest level in the past nine months, due to the need to limit output at nuclear power plants. The reduction was caused by a critical rise in water temperatures in the rivers used to cool the reactors.