After the recent flood disasters in Germany, the question of a suitable protection concept is also coming to the fore again in Peiting.
After the topic had recently disappeared into oblivion, the mayor now wants to speed up the implementation.
Peiting
- Torn away houses, destroyed bridges and streets, devastated places: there are terrible images that have been going around the world for days from the regions in Germany hit by the floods. In Peiting, many citizens are likely to ask themselves the anxious question these days with a view to the Peitnach flowing through the community: Can such a disaster also affect their home town?
The municipality has long been aware that there is a need for action in matters of flood protection.
In 2015, an engineering office commissioned the market to scrutinize the municipal area and highlight the possible dangers of a flood of the century.
In such a disaster, 22.5 cubic meters of water per second would have to be drained off at the Peitnach, the experts determined.
However, a maximum of 14 cubic meters per second could only flow off without damage.
The consequences of this discrepancy were impressively demonstrated by a simulation: the water would then spread in the town center, along the Peitnach 27 main and 33 auxiliary buildings would be affected by the flood.
The property damage would run into the millions.
Several approaches presented
Even then, the experts showed several ways in which such a catastrophe could be prevented. They ranged from a flood protection wall on Ammergauer Straße and other measures along the inner-city stream to retention basins that absorb the water before it reaches the site. The latter proposal met with the greatest approval in the local council in 2016. After that, however, it became quiet about the flood protection concept. Nothing has been implemented so far.
If Mayor Peter Ostenrieder has his way, that should change as quickly as possible.
"You can see from the most recent disasters that it can hit you very quickly." The first discussions with the engineering office have already taken place again.
In doing so, they took a closer look at the individual proposed solutions, says Ostenrieder.
The town hall chief intends to present the two most suitable concepts to the local council at his retreat in autumn.
At the moment, the construction of two retention basins near Kurzenried and further towards Peiting is favored, says Ostenrieder.
The idea of using the Deutensee as a retention basin had to be discarded.
Retention basin in Kurzenried?
Five years ago, however, Kurzenried had been discussed as a location for a retention basin and raised concerns. The then local councilor Pankratia Holl and farmer warned in the committee of the existence-threatening consequences for the farmers, on the basis of which the plant would have to be built. Ostenrieder also expects difficult negotiations with the affected property owners if the municipal council decides in favor of this solution. However, he points out that flood protection has priority; if necessary, one must also think about expropriations. "But of course we will try to be good first."
Bernhard Müller from the Water Management Office also emphasizes that the community is well advised not to put the issue on the back burner. The investigation carried out by the specialist office showed that there were deficits in flood protection in Peiting. "If you know these deficits, you should tackle them," says Müller. It is true that he rates the danger for the Peitnach from local heavy rain events, such as those that have now led to the floods, as low because of the large catchment area. But prolonged rain lasting several days could cause the stream to swell critically. Such extreme weather events are rare, says Müller. But the most recent flood disasters would show one thing: "It can happen tomorrow."
