Temperatures are falling and measures are proving effective. Whilst temperatures were still at record levels a week ago, the situation has now eased noticeably thanks to more pleasant temperatures. “Our customers have made a crucial contribution by using water sparingly,” emphasises Michael Beine (SWK Head of Technical Services / Pipeline Media). “Many thanks to everyone who heeded our request. It has made a significant difference.” Furthermore, the school holidays in Rhineland-Palatinate have helped to improve the situation, as some of the residents of Lautern are now on holiday. The Palatinate Forest: a regional asset The Palatinate Forest, with the Lauterspring spring and its 23 deep groundwater wells, continues to supply water reliably. In total, SWK extracts around 7.5 million cubic metres of groundwater annually from its own water extraction facilities. Despite the dry spells in spring and June, the groundwater level remains at a satisfactory level. Forest soils are very good at storing water, whilst the tree cover provides shade for the ground. The Palatinate Forest is one of the largest groundwater reserves in Rhineland-Palatinate. The whole region benefits from this. The porous red sandstone allows rainfall to seep away quickly. The filtered water then collects in large underground reservoirs. Kaiserslautern and the Palatinate are known for their soft, low-calcium water (hardness class 1). The water quality in the region is excellent.