to feed the planned canal system with water already in 1905 before the construction of the datteln-hamm canal the decision was passed by the prussian state to use 10 m³/second water from the river lippe – the only relevant river in the area – for the compensation of evaporation, infiltration and loss of water from the sluices). that was leading from 1914 on to severe water management problems in the river lippe where in dry summers only 4 m³/second water was left downstream. from 1926 on the newly established water board lippeverband negotiated with the competent authorities and finally the governmental waterway administration (“reichswasserstraßenverwaltung”) confirmed to reduce the water abstraction to 7,5 m³/second from 1938 on.