As of: March 6, 2024, 7:17 p.m
By: Florian Naumann
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In 2021, Söder announced a water cent through Bavaria.
Now things could get serious.
A lot is still unclear - in any case, the coalition is touching on controversial points.
Munich – Almost three years ago, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) announced the introduction of a “water cent” in Bavaria – and reaffirmed the plan in October when the coalition agreement was presented.
So far, however, the CSU and Free Voters have not made any real progress.
That should change now.
Maybe in 2024, but maybe not.
“The water cent will come.
For me it is a central building block for the future task of water supply.
That's why I spoke out in favor of a water cent from the start," said Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters) to the
dpa
in an interview published on Tuesday (March 5).
The associated law should be introduced to the cabinet by the summer break, it said.
But questions remain unanswered.
Söder's water cent is to come - many questions remain unanswered, the Greens put pressure on it
For example, whether the fee for the extraction of groundwater really has to be paid in 2024.
Or how high the tax should be.
Both are reportedly open, reported the
dpa
.
In 2021, Söder spoke of annual costs of around five euros per person based on average consumption.
Since then, inflation has hit sharply.
The Prime Minister announced the “water cent” in a government statement in July 2021.
Since the start of the Söder III cabinet, the project has also been included in the coalition agreement between the CSU and Hubert Aiwanger's Free Voters - after the CSU had strictly rejected further costs for the people in the country for a long time.
In the meantime, the approaching state elections had probably also slowed down the project.
Officially, the “economic situation” in 2023 was the reason for postponing the plans.
The Greens complained on Wednesday (February 28th) under the hashtag “promise breakers” that the water cent is not in the current budget draft.
In any case, the matter is now gaining momentum verbally.
Water cent in Bavaria: Söder wants an incentive to save – and money for projects
The water cent is already available in 13 of the 16 German federal states, some for many years.
Anyone who pumps out water must pay a fee.
Depending on the country, the levy level varies greatly and ranges up to around 30 cents per cubic meter.
There was also a recent dispute over a water cent in Hesse.
“This is a small contribution that provides an incentive to use water carefully and economically.
At the same time, we use it to finance water protection.”
Markus Söder during his “climate jerk” government declaration in summer 2021.
The levy is not just about regulating consumption.
According to the coalition agreement, the income should flow “earmarked” into “water management projects”, “effective water protection” and “sustainable water management”.
There were financial desires from the “water supplying municipalities”, including in Upper Bavaria, among others.
And then there is the issue of “privatization” of water resources – and a growing drought problem in many parts of the country.
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Aldi company causes trouble in Bavaria: “Deep groundwater is an iron reserve”
In order to get a better handle on the sometimes threatening drought in Franconia, for example, the state government wants to build a new long-distance pipeline system.
With this water clasp, the vital water is supposed to come from the south and west to the dry regions.
This is likely to be challenging both financially and from a planning perspective.
At the same time, there is a conflict between the water supply for people in Bavaria and commercial interests.
Glauber also emphasized this in his conversation with the
dpa
.
“Deep groundwater represents the iron reserve for supplying the population. It may only be extracted to the extent absolutely necessary after the appropriate permit has been granted.” Bavarian water has also been available to mineral water bottlers more or less free of charge.
The conflict is currently evident in Treuchtlingen in Central Franconia, where the Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen company, part of the Aldi Nord Group since 2023, wants to develop a water source for commercial use.
The wells are expected to be completed by summer, and 250,000 cubic meters of water per year will then be withdrawn.
However, it is still unclear whether the company will be allowed to withdraw water.
So far, the company has been pumping out about the same amount per year via deep wells.
Söder's coalition wants to take a clear stance on water: "Against any form of privatization"
Environmentalists are already alarmed: “It cannot be the case that private companies enrich themselves from a common good such as water, especially since the battles over the distribution of water have already begun in Bavaria,” said Federal Nature Conservation Commissioner Martin Geilhufe.
Glauber's Ministry of the Environment also emphasized that it had always been critical of the use of deep groundwater by “Altmühltaler”.
“On the initiative of the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district office and the Ansbach water management office, a joint concept is currently being developed on possible savings potential from the sensitive deep groundwater for the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district.” The coalition agreement states: “We oppose any form of privatization.”
(
dpa/fn
)