Luxembourg is calling for people to save water

Amid the ongoing heatwave, Luxembourg’s Water Management Agency (AGE) has published official recommendations on reducing daily water consumption. The government agency warns that the extremely high temperatures are leading to the accelerated depletion of reserves and placing a critical strain on the country’s river ecosystems.

At present, around half of the drinking water in the Grand Duchy comes from reservoirs, whilst the remainder is drawn from groundwater. Although current reserves are considered sufficient, in the event of a prolonged drought, municipalities not connected to the SEBES network will face a high risk of shortages. Should this happen, the authorities will be forced to impose an official ban on the use of drinking water for certain domestic purposes.

Rising temperatures inevitably lead to an increase in water consumption for watering plants, domestic use and leisure activities. To avoid a critical depletion of resources, the regulatory authorities are urging the public to adjust their daily habits. In particular, it is recommended to avoid frequently filling private swimming pools in favour of using public ones, to use commercial car washes, to shorten shower times, and to run water-intensive household appliances only when they are fully loaded. In addition, experts advise collecting rainwater, watering plants only in the early morning or evening, and completely avoiding watering lawns, as their grass cover is capable of recovering naturally once rainfall returns.

As well as depleting reservoirs, the heat is causing significant damage to local water bodies. As water levels in rivers fall, the water heats up rapidly, which inevitably leads to a reduction in oxygen concentration and a corresponding increase in the proportion of pollutants. These physico-chemical changes lead to a deterioration in water quality and pose a direct threat to aquatic ecosystems. In view of this, the agency is calling for water abstraction from natural rivers and streams to be strictly minimised during this period.

As the Water Management Authority (AGE) emphasises, against a backdrop of increasingly frequent periods of abnormal temperatures, the conservation of water resources is becoming a strategically important task. Alongside calls for water conservation, medical experts are reminding people of the need to maintain the body’s water balance, recommending the consumption of tap water, which in Luxembourg is one of the most strictly monitored food products on the market.