Reduced rainfall, increasing periods of drought and the effects of the phase-out of coal present major challenges for water management in eastern Germany. At the same time, water demand is growing as a result of economic development, new industrial settlements and the transformation of the economy and energy supply.
Against this backdrop, on 1 July 2026, around 300 representatives from politics, public administration, business, academia and the water sector gathered at an inter-state water congress at the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden to discuss strategies for ensuring a secure long-term water supply in Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony.
The event is organised by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce of Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony, the Berlin-Brandenburg and Saxony regional groups of the Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU), and the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists (VBKI).
The congress will focus on the financing of water infrastructure and the substantial investment requirements arising from climate change, the phase-out of coal and the implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The associated costs affect not only the municipal water sector but also businesses, particularly those in water- and energy-intensive industries. In addition, participants will discuss the long-term security of water supply, innovative water technologies and the necessary cross-state cooperation to tackle water management challenges in eastern Germany.
Thomas Ott, acting Chief Executive of the Dresden Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Dresden), speaking on behalf of the organising Chambers of Industry and Commerce, emphasises the importance of water for the region’s economic development: “Water is increasingly becoming a decisive location factor. Companies need the assurance that water will remain available in sufficient quantities, of good quality and at affordable prices. Even today, regional business establishment and expansion projects are failing due to a lack of water resources. To secure the long-term competitiveness of our economic region, water availability and infrastructure must be factored into location decisions at an early stage. At the same time, we need faster approval procedures, more storage capacity and even closer cross-border cooperation.”
Julian Büche, Managing Director of the VKU Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Group, emphasises the following from the perspective of municipal water management: “Water does not stop at state borders. Only through cross-state water resource management can the diverse challenges facing the municipal water sector be tackled. The Water Congress has set itself the task of providing the state governments of Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony with concrete measures to secure water as a resource in a sustainable manner, both for drinking water supply and for economic development. However, one thing is also clear: Without long-term and reliable funding prospects, it will be difficult to make the water infrastructure future-proof.”
Dr Florian Gräßler, Managing Director of the VKU Saxony Regional Group, adds, with regard to the growing investment needs of the water sector: “Climate change, demographic trends, new legal requirements and a backlog of investment are creating significant investment needs for the municipal water sector. On the one hand, we need greater municipal cooperation and regional solutions to keep water supply and wastewater disposal secure, affordable and efficient in the long term. On the other hand, the challenges cannot be tackled by local authorities alone; we need additional support and financial assistance from the federal and state governments.”
Ute Weiland, Managing Director of the Association of Berlin Merchants and Industrialists (VBKI), emphasises the importance of long-term planning: “Water can no longer be taken for granted; it is one of the prerequisites for economic strength, quality of life and sustainability. Anyone wishing to facilitate industrial development, transformation and growth must secure the water supply with foresight: across state borders, with efficient infrastructure, more storage and reuse options, and faster procedures. Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony now need joint solutions to ensure that water remains a reliable location factor in the future.”