Will Sauerlach dry up near Munich soon?
Local councilor Axel Horn (Greens) is at least concerned and refers to the current figures from the Bavarian State Office for the Environment.
Sauerlach
- According to the figures from the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU), the groundwater levels have been falling steadily since the end of June and are now classified from "low" to "very low".
It doesn't look any better elsewhere: In Aying, too, the statistics show a "new low" at the same time.
Groundwater level in Sauerlach: Remember that the water is not enough
The reasons for this seem manifold.
Apart from too little precipitation: "The water level is falling because too much water is draining away in technical systems: the water from the Sauerlach wells through the waste water sewer, the water from the Munich well through the long-distance pipeline," explains Horn.
It is therefore time "to talk to Munich about the amount of water that will be withdrawn in Sauerlach".
(Our district Munich newsletter will keep you regularly informed about all the important stories from your region. Register here.)
Not everyone in the community may share these concerns.
Markus Hoffmann (CSU), for example, admits "that the previous peak values of 2011 or 2018 were not reached again." However, the groundwater level at the beginning of 2022 was above the long-term average since 2007, according to Hoffmann.
“If you look at the value as of January 1 of each year for the last ten years, the groundwater level was only above the value of 2022 in two years, namely 2014 and 2017, but below it in eight years between 2012 and 2021.
This rather shows the “strong fluctuations”.
There is "no reason to panic".
Groundwater level in Sauerlach: There is a lack of information
According to Hoffmann, the municipal council was repeatedly asked about this topic, including the question of the low level at which the municipal water pumps have a problem because the shafts would then have to be deepened.
Unfortunately, the municipal council has too little information.
"This is also due to the fact that the town hall has apparently not paid much attention to the topic so far," says Hoffmann's accusation.
He attributes this to the question arose several months ago in the municipal council as to how often the Munich public utility company extracts groundwater on Otterfinger Weg.
"Because this," says Hoffmann, "also affects the groundwater level in Sauerlach.
The well there was previously only intended for peak loads.” To this day, Hoffmann says there has been no response from the town hall.
Groundwater level: Mayor Bogner sees no need for action
City hall boss Barbara Bogner (UBV) currently sees no need for action either: "There have been much drier summers here than this year." And: "There is currently no reason to worry." Markus Hoffmann is certain: "The municipal council will deal with the topic and will also have to develop a strategy for saving water.
However, in my opinion, there is not yet sufficient data available.”
Groundwater level: Authority confirms massive drought
The water management office in Munich confirms on request: "Except for December, which was too wet, all months in the hydrological winter half-year (November to April) in southern Bavaria were statistically too dry.
And the following months of May, June and July were also too dry here.” The Sauerlach level shows a “very low value” of only around 24 centimeters above the lowest value measured so far.
"However, the series of measurements is relatively small at 15 years."
Axel Horn remains critical as far as the Sauerlach water supply is concerned: "We have only had a steady decline since the end of 2021. In between there have always been recovery phases." be a little higher again.
But now, on the other hand, the lows of the past few years have already been undercut without a renewed rise having set in.
You can find more current news from the district of Munich at Merkur.de/Landkreis München.
