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What to do if there is a drought

Official updatesLU-Alert · RTL, 100.7 · 112

Do this now

  1. Follow the water-use rules from your municipality or your water supplier straight away, even if your taps still run normally.
  2. Save water in the home: take short showers instead of baths, turn the tap off while you brush your teeth or wash up, and run the washing machine and dishwasher only when full.
  3. Save water outside: stop watering the lawn, washing the car and filling the pool. Water plants with a can, early in the morning or in the evening.
  4. Fix dripping taps and toilets that keep running. A small leak wastes a lot of water over a summer.
  5. Keep a store of drinking water: Status: Verified per person per day for Status: Verified, and some for your pets.
  6. Never light a fire, a barbecue or a cigarette in dry woods or fields. A drought makes wildfires far more likely.
  7. On hot days, drink at least Status: Verified per person, and check on neighbours who are older, ill or alone.

Before

Know where the rules come from

  • Your municipality and your water supplier decide local limits on water use. Updates on the supply appear on infocrise, and the national water authority can send warnings through LU-Alert. See Alerts and sirens.
  • Luxembourg's resilience strategy lists drought and water shortage among the risks that climate change brings.

Stock water

  • Water: Status: Verified per person per day, for Status: Verified. Rotate the bottles so they stay fresh.
  • For pets, plan at least Status: Verified a day for a dog and Status: Verified a day for a cat.
  • Keep some water for washing and the toilet as well as for drinking. No water, or water unsafe covers what to do if the taps stop.

Use less water every day

  • Collect rainwater in a butt for the garden, and reuse the water you rinsed vegetables in for your plants.
  • Check the water meter while no tap is running. If it still moves, you have a leak.

After

  • Keep saving water until the authorities lift the limits.
  • If tap water changes colour, smell or taste, do not drink it, and follow any notice from your supplier, even if the water looks normal. No water, or water unsafe has the steps.
  • Refill your water store and swap out old bottles.
  • Heavy rain can follow a dry spell. Read the warnings and Flooding.

If you are…

Looking after children

  • Teach children to take short showers and turn off taps. Keep a bottle of water with them on hot days.

Older, ill, or living with a disability

  • A drought often comes with heat. Drink regularly through the day, and follow the heat-wave page.

With pets

  • Never ration your pet's drinking water. Give them fresh water in the shade every day.

With a garden

  • Leave the lawn unwatered. Water only young plants and vegetables, and pour it at the roots.

Easy-read summary

  • Use less water every day.
  • Follow the news for water rules.
  • Do not light fires outside.
  • Drink enough water on hot days.
  • Check on older neighbours.