"Between 1990 and 2024, more than 20% of the coastal areas we studied showed significant changes in the groundwater level. In some cases, levels have dropped by more than 50 centimeters per year. This points to overabstraction and, consequently, the potential intrusion of seawater and associated salinization," explained Professor Robert Reinecke (JGU, Mainz). The interaction between overabstraction and rising global sea levels due to global warming is particularly critical: "If groundwater levels drop, seawater can intrude more easily."