Rescue for Thürmsdorf's highest waterfall: petition brings new swing!

Rescue for Thürmsdorf's highest waterfall: petition brings new swing!

in the picturesque Saxon Switzerland, exactly told in Thürmsdorf near troops, the Pehnabach is waiting to shine again as the highest waterfall in the region. With a total height of 20 meters, this waterfall is not only an impressive natural monument, but also an important ecosystem. However, a creeping problem currently leads to the fact that the waterfall no longer flows as lavishly as it was once. The reason for this lies in uranium mining for decades.

The Pirna district office has now taken a step to improve the situation. It is planned to prove Wismut GmbH with a penalty payment of 10,000 euros in order to increase the amount of water in the Pehnabach. According to sächsische.de followed a successful petition of the Thürmsdorfer Heimatverein, which has campaigned for the restoration of the water flow.

The background of the water lack

The natural source of the Pehnabach has dried up since the era of uranium mining in Königstein. Since 1968, the bismuth has been reinforced in the river, but this feed -in 2013 was discontinued. A legal dispute, which was decided in 2019 before the Saxon Higher Administrative Court of Bautzen, brought the citizens of Thürmsdorf a little victory: the bismuth was obliged to feed at least 50 cubic meters of water per hour. But currently only around 10 cubic meters per hour flow because there is no replacement water available. Instead, drinking water from the Cunnersdorf waterworks is used.

The situation is tense because bismuth plans to completely stop this water feed. The inhabitants of Thürmsdorf therefore submitted a petition to prevent this. With your signature you want to prevent ecological damage to flora and fauna as well as a decrease in quality of life and tourist attraction.

uranium mining and its consequences

The background for the ongoing problems lies in the extensive uranium mining of the region, which was massively expanded after the Second World War. A total of 80,600 tons of uranium were won here by 1990. Oba.sachsen.de states that Wismut GmbH, which emerged from the former Soviet-German Aktiengesellschaft Wismut, is still fighting with numerous obligations. These include the renovation of formerly contaminated surfaces and the setting of mining, which has been going on for decades.

Wismut GmbH has already used 6.9 billion euros for renovation measures by the end of 2021, including the disassembly of dismissed systems and the custody of contaminated deduction systems. The natural occurrence and the restricted water availability repeatedly lead to discussions about the responsibility of the company towards the region.

A look into the future

The new initiative of the district office and the commitment of the Thürmsdorf Heimatverein could possibly initiate a turn in the history of the Pehnabach. The view of a rushing waterfall is not only a question of ecology, but also the emotional and tourist value for the community. In view of the ongoing challenges, it is now time to look into the future with a clear plan and tackle the ecological challenges together.

People in Thürmsdorf and the surrounding area have a good hand to protect their nature. It remains to be hoped that your efforts will soon bear fruit and that the Pehnabach can bloom again in full splendor. Wismut GmbH is responsible for becoming aware of your responsibility - for the environment, the residents and future generations.