Drought and water restrictions at home
During prolonged drought, utilities and authorities may restrict water use, for example for garden watering, filling pools or washing cars. Knowing the restrictions, saving water indoors, watering the garden wisely and still keeping a drinking-water reserve relieves the network and keeps you able to cope. Which rules apply is decided by the local authority.
- Ongoing; first measures in an hour
Explained simply
A drought is a long period with far too little rain. Rivers, lakes and the water deep in the ground, the groundwater, then keep shrinking. The water from your tap comes from exactly these sources. When they run low, municipalities and water utilities can set rules, for example: no lawn sprinkling, no filling pools, no washing cars.
Think of the water pipes like a road. If everyone waters their garden at the same time in the evening, there is a traffic jam – the network cannot keep up, even if there is still enough water overall. That is why saving on large outdoor uses helps most. Indoors, small habits help: shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, having dripping taps repaired.
The most important point: you never save on drinking. Especially when it is hot, you need enough water. And because dry countryside burns easily, fire and barbecue bans often apply – check the local rules.
How water shortages develop
Depending on the region, drinking water comes from groundwater, springs, rivers or reservoirs. If rain fails for weeks or months, levels fall. At the same time, heat raises consumption: people shower more often, gardens and lawns are watered, pools are filled. Together, this can push a supply system to its limits.
Often it is not the total amount that is the first problem, but the peak. Waterworks, pumps and storage tanks are designed for a certain consumption per hour. When very many households turn on sprinklers at the same time on hot evenings, pressure in the network can drop even though the reservoirs still hold water. That is why many restrictions target garden watering at particular times.
Drought develops slowly. Unlike severe weather, there is usually time to adapt. If you follow notices from the water utility and the municipality, you will see restrictions coming early.
Knowing and following restrictions
Which rules apply is decided by the local authority or utility – they differ from place to place. Typical are bans on sprinklers, garden watering at certain times of day, filling pools or washing cars on your own property. Read carefully: what is prohibited, from when and at what times?
In dry periods it is often also prohibited to pump water from streams, rivers or lakes, because fish and other animals would otherwise have to live in too little, too warm water. Withdrawal restrictions can apply to private wells too. If you have your own well, also watch whether the water level is falling.
A common mistake in thinking is: 'As long as water comes out of the tap, there is enough.' The restrictions are meant precisely to prevent that from changing. Following them is practical consideration for everyone connected to the same network.
Saving indoors and in the garden
Indoors, small steps add up: shorter showers, running the washing machine and dishwasher only when full, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and soaping up. A dripping tap or a constantly running cistern wastes water day and night and should be repaired. The cold water that runs until it gets warm can be caught in a jug and used for plants or cleaning.
In the garden, if watering is allowed: early in the morning or in the evening rather than in the midday heat, because otherwise a lot evaporates. Better to water rarely and deeply than a little every day – that way roots grow deeper. Mulch, a layer of grass cuttings, leaves or wood chips on the soil, keeps moisture in the ground like a blanket.
Set priorities: vegetables and young trees first. You can look calmly at a brown lawn – it usually recovers when rain returns. Where it does rain, a rain barrel collects water for later.
Safety: what to watch out for
Grey water is used water, for example from washing up or the shower. It is not suitable for drinking and does not belong on vegetables or salad eaten raw, because germs and detergent residues can cling to them. Whether you may use grey water in the garden at all differs by region.
Drought often coincides with heat. Drinking enough then remains more important than any saving target. Save on the lawn, pool and car – never on drinking water for people and pets.
Dry conditions considerably raise the risk of wildfires and grass fires. Fire and barbecue bans are often issued for exactly this reason. Check the local rules before you barbecue, and never throw away cigarettes.
Good to know: saving and storing go together
It sounds contradictory but makes sense: even in a drought, keep your drinking-water reserve for emergencies, as recommended by Germany's BBK, for example. The reserve is meant for the case where the supply fails completely, such as a burst main or a power cut. It is renewed regularly; you can use the old water for watering.
Agriculture and large-scale irrigation have their own permits and rules, which are not covered here. And this entry does not describe water treatment: water from streams, ponds or rain barrels is not drinking water.
Step by step
Know the restrictions
Read notices from the utility and municipality: what is prohibited, from when, at what times? Also observe bans on taking water from streams and lakes.
- 1
Know the restrictions
Read notices from the utility and municipality: what is prohibited, from when, at what times? Also observe bans on taking water from streams and lakes.
- 2
Save indoors
Take short showers, run washing machine and dishwasher only when full, repair dripping taps and running cisterns, turn off the tap while brushing teeth.
- 3
Reuse water
Catch cold warm-up water in a jug and use it for plants or cleaning. Collect rainwater in a barrel when it rains.
- 4
Water the garden wisely
If permitted: water early in the morning or in the evening, rarely but deeply, mulch, let the lawn go brown – it usually recovers. Prioritise vegetables and young trees.
- 5
Keep a reserve
Despite saving, keep the drinking-water reserve for emergencies and renew it regularly.
Common mistakes
- Sprinkling the lawn in the midday heat
- Ignoring restrictions because 'water is still coming out'
- Saving drinking water by not drinking enough
- Putting grey water on salad crops
Quick view
Materials
Food-grade water container
Only use containers that never held chemicals or fuel.
Rain barrel with lid
Collected rainwater is not drinking water without treatment.
Keep it covered – open barrels are a drowning hazard for small children and a breeding site for mosquitoes.
Measuring jug
Suitable for
- Dry summers
- Regions with water scarcity
- Households with a garden
Not suitable for
- Agricultural irrigation – separate permits and rules apply
Prerequisites
- Follow notices from the water utility and the municipality
Safety
- Drought raises wildfire risk. Observe fire and barbecue bans – check local rules.
- Do not drink grey water (e.g. dishwater) and do not put it on vegetables eaten raw. Whether grey-water use is allowed differs by region.
- Drought often coincides with heat – drinking enough remains more important than saving drinking water.
How it works
In drought, levels in reservoirs, rivers and groundwater fall. Peak demand – especially evening garden watering – can overload the supply network even when there is still enough water overall. Saving therefore works best on large, deferrable uses outside the home.
Advantages
- Relieves the public network
- Saves money
- Helps prevent supply shortages
Disadvantages
- Garden plants may suffer
- Requires discipline over weeks
Deep knowledge
Background
Ready.gov describes measures for saving water indoors and in the garden during drought. Independently, the BBK recommends a drinking-water reserve for emergencies.
Drought develops slowly; unlike severe weather there is usually time to adapt.
Variants
- Private well
- In drought the water level in private wells may drop. Monitor use; withdrawal restrictions can apply to private wells too.
Common mistakes
- Sprinkling the lawn in the midday heat
- Ignoring restrictions because 'water is still coming out'
- Saving drinking water by not drinking enough
- Putting grey water on salad crops
Limits and risks
- No details on specific local bans
- No water treatment
Material alternatives
Derived from material properties: a substitute must have all relevant properties. Observe the notes on the substitute.
- Food-grade water container
- Single-wall stainless steel bottle (Heat only single-wall bottles without paint/plastic; remove the lid before heating.), Double-wall insulated bottle (Never heat directly.), PET bottle (clear, max. 2 litres) (Do not heat or place in a fire.), Airtight food-grade storage container (Fill only when clean and completely dry; never use containers that previously held chemicals.), Collapsible water container or bag (Protect from sharp objects.), Food-grade water bag (Use only for drinking water, never for chemicals or fuel.), Fermentation jar or crock (Use only food-grade containers of glass, food-safe glazed stoneware or food-grade plastic – no metal containers for acidic food.), Resealable food bags (Use only bags intended for food; do not use with boiling water unless the manufacturer explicitly allows it.)
- Measuring jug
- Metal pot (stainless steel, aluminium, titanium) (Hot – scalding risk.), Single-wall stainless steel bottle (Heat only single-wall bottles without paint/plastic; remove the lid before heating.), Double-wall insulated bottle (Never heat directly.), PET bottle (clear, max. 2 litres) (Do not heat or place in a fire.), Food-grade water container (Only use containers that never held chemicals or fuel.), Airtight food-grade storage container (Fill only when clean and completely dry; never use containers that previously held chemicals.), Collapsible water container or bag (Protect from sharp objects.), Food-grade water bag (Use only for drinking water, never for chemicals or fuel.), Fermentation jar or crock (Use only food-grade containers of glass, food-safe glazed stoneware or food-grade plastic – no metal containers for acidic food.), Resealable food bags (Use only bags intended for food; do not use with boiling water unless the manufacturer explicitly allows it.)
Results come exclusively from structured entries. No improvised instructions are generated.
Sources
Ready.gov – U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Drought
Saving water indoors and in the garden during drought
Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Deutschland: Ratgeber für Notfallvorsorge und richtiges Handeln in Notsituationen
Drinking-water reserve for emergencies