Flood Protection and Resilient Infrastructure in Lingen – March 2026

Flood Protection in Lingen: Preparation for Extreme Weather

In March 2026, the city of Lingen (Ems) intensified its efforts to ensure safety against flooding. Against the backdrop of the climate crisis and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the municipality has placed a strategic focus on flood protection. The administration and the political leadership have discussed both short-term and long-term measures to best protect the city and its residents.

Dikes, Flood Basins, and Crisis Communication

The discussions during the meetings focused intensively on the condition of existing dikes, flood basins, and ditches. According to Mr. Jansen, the dikes currently offer sufficient protection for most flood scenarios, but not for a so-called "100-year flood," which might come from a different direction than previously expected. This highlights the necessity to expand or raise the dikes.

In Schepsdorf, measures were planned that, according to the administration, will not worsen the flood risk for lower-lying districts. The calculations for this were already carried out in advance. Raising the dikes using clay requires the removal of material from other areas, which is compensated by sand extraction in Wachendorf. These measures are part of a comprehensive flood protection plan that takes into account both ecological and infrastructure-related aspects.

Another key focus was crisis communication. It became clear that during the construction work, on-site care will be ensured. In addition, Mr. Janning called for improved communication during crises to enable rapid and transparent information dissemination to the population in the event of a flood.

Emergency Power Concept: Security for Wastewater Treatment Plants and Pumps

In addition to the flood protection measures, an updated emergency power concept for the wastewater treatment plant and the pumping stations in Lingen was also presented. This concept ensures continuous operation for at least 72 hours in the event of a power outage – a crucial prerequisite for ensuring the hygiene supply of the city even in critical situations.

The administration has committed to maintaining the central cleaning processes at the wastewater treatment plant and securing the pumping capacity. To this end, the necessary fuel and generator capacities have been provided. These measures are part of the city's resilience strategy, which is also aligned with long-term climate adaptation.

E-Mobility: A Step Toward Climate-Friendly Urban Development

In addition to the flood protection measures, topics related to e-mobility in the new residential areas were also addressed in the meetings. The city of Lingen is investing in a sustainable infrastructure that not only supports climate goals but also enhances the quality of life for its residents. The integration of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in new developments is a central component of this effort.

Outlook: On the Path to a Climate-Resilient City

The discussions and decisions in March 2026 show that Lingen (Ems) is actively responding to the challenges of the climate crisis. With investments in flood protection, the security of critical infrastructure, and the promotion of climate-friendly mobility, the city is setting an important example. The coming months will show how far these measures are implemented and what further steps are necessary to guide Lingen into the future.