Court tilts water supply law: consequences for Strausberg and Erkner!

Court tilts water supply law: consequences for Strausberg and Erkner!

In a current decision by the Higher Administrative Court (OVG) Berlin-Brandenburg, it was found that the regulations to limit the amount of drinking water in the water association Strausberg-Kner (WSE) are partially illegal. As reported rbbb24, this judgment occurred after a standard control application from three property owners. The court primarily criticized the water supply statute and described it as "too vague". A clear yardstick for the amount of drinking water granted is completely missing, and the regulations require a connection permit by March 2030 at the latest.

The OVG asked the association to set a maximum amount of drinking water for each property. Until this approval, the right of use should be based on average per capita consumption, whereby the drinking water installation should serve as the basis for commercial use. In addition, the court made it clear that the general authorization of the association to restrict the consumption is not objected to if the water is threatening. Installation of irrigation and temporary restrictions on use are therefore permitted, but must be based on the specific danger situation.

measures to secure the water reserves

In order to continue to act despite the legal uncertainties, the WSE has already concluded new contracts with new customers in the private household sector, which provide for a capping of the water supply. According to MAZ-ONLINE, 37 cubic meters of water are intended in these contracts per person. This is necessary if the withdrawal of groundwater is further restricted. The association also has affinities to industrial companies, including the electric car manufacturer Tesla, which is based in Grünheide.

The situation with the water reserves remains tense: the WSE only has a limited approval of the withdrawal of groundwater, and existing land use plans contribute to the exhaustion of these reserves. A hopeful news could be the approval of the Ministry of the Environment to promote additional water. However, existing contracts are threatened if the agreed amount is exceeded with order or fines, but the citizens are spared a stop of the water supply.

drinking water statistics and regional differences

As the statistics of the [Federal Ministry of Environment] (https://www.bundesumweltministerium.de/themen/wasser-und-binengewaesser/statistik/Statistik-trinkwater supply) show, the water consumption in Berlin, where two thirds of the drinking water from bank filtrate comes, is considerably higher with a per capita consumption of 110 to 115 liters per day National average of 128 liters. Berlin also has a higher waterworks capacity compared to other regions and could put closed waterworks back into operation if necessary. The water operations in the capital currently see no reason to limit the amount of water for end consumers.

With the increasing water consumption rates in the Berlin bacon belt, however, the prospects are tense. Experts emphasize that careful use of water not only serves sustainability, but is also regarded as an important contribution to saving energy, since water promotion requires a high level of energy. So it will remain exciting how the situation of drinking water supply will develop in the coming years.