Compared to previous years, 2020 saw a 20% decline in water usage during the months of June and July. Lickes noted that the reduced use was linked to lower temperatures. A shortage of water is not to be expected in the near future, the director therefore underlined. Moreover, the weeks of collective leave in August, when all major construction sites come to a halt, will allow reserves to recover.
Nevertheless, attention should still be paid to saving water. Climate change has shown negative effects on the regeneration of groundwater. Half of the country's water reserves are dependant on natural springs, with the other dependent on the barrier lakes.
The per capita consumption therefore ought to be lowered. Currently, the rate is set at 135 litres per day, which could be lowered by 20-25%, according to estimations.
It would also be beneficial to create a new source of water. The Moselle could be a potential solution. Studies are underway to see if water can be extracted from the river, similar to German and Dutch practices, where water is taken from the Rhine. Although complicated, the same procedure could be applied to the Moselle, Lickes explained. Water temperatures could be controlled by creating an underground passage. Getting the water from the Moselle to the people in the capital remains a challenge, but it is a project that could be completed within the span of 15-20 years.
