Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Does Germany Have a Water Crisis?

 NO.  Even if the Environmental Ministry hypes this idea of a national water strategy, a national reservoir system, etc.....NO, there is no water crisis.  

What you have are a couple of areas around the country where urbanization and rural farming have collided and are competing against each other for water resources.  Add to it...a recent drought period has identified some areas as being limited water resources (if we enter another drought-summer).

What you typically pay for water/sewer fees?  Around 30 to 40 Euro (more or less).  Folks with large yards, who handle gardens as a hobby....probably pay 50-percent more as a minimum.

Back in 2011, Germany noted that they only 'extract' around 3-percent of the national renewable water supply (yearly).  

As for drinking water quality?  Germans typically brag that they have some of the best water in the world.  My village's water comes off a spring on the side of the village....going into a massive tank, and I'd generally rate it as having a 'good taste'.

So where will this national strategy on water lead to?  I would make four observations:

1.  First, the sixteen states are probably going to tell the federal folks to stay out of this business. 

2.  Somewhere in this discussion....I think it's likely that two-dozen-odd new reservoirs will come into the deal.  You could easily syphon-off flood water from the Rhein (it floods at least twice a year) and run the water to some massive man-made lake.  Farmers won't like giving land for this, but as a regional strategy, it might be worth the effort.

3.  Somewhere in the mix.....there will be some kind of tax created out of thin air.

4.  Finally, some environmental idiots will start accusing people of using too much water, and a guilt-sin situation will develop where heavy-users of water will face 'blame'.  It's silly to suggest that, but you could see this easily developing with some 'Greta-water-queen' coming out to jump on people.  

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