Water is like money, it’s not gone, it’s just somewhere else… but it’s bad when there isn’t enough groundwater in our communities, municipalities and cities
Our drinking water belongs to all of us!
However, some large companies see things completely differently.
Many regions are currently struggling with falling groundwater levels and water shortages due to climate change and other man-made causes. In summer, many municipalities have to call for water saving. On the other hand, municipalities sell and lease the drinking water wells, which belong to the entire population, to wholesale companies and discounters, who in turn pump the precious water and bottle it as drinking water, for example, and sell it to the population at a high price. That seems extremely grotesque, but it can at least be explained with regard to the high trade tax revenue for the municipalities – but it is far from sensible and consumer-friendly. On the contrary!
Water is an endangered commodity
In its report “Up to the last drop”, the ARD reported on this water shortage and the sinking groundwater level using the example of Lüneburg and Coca Cola. New wells were drilled for the production and bottling of “Vio” mineral water bottles. Experts express the concern that these wells will cause the groundwater level in the region to fall further and the region to dry up, even though this project is currently on hold and more are being carried out. Since 2020, more low levels of groundwater have been measured than ever before. Other sources are shut down.
Germany with highest water loss worldwide
Images from NASA satellites show the water loss of around 2.5 km³/year, which corresponds to the volume of Lake Constance within 20 years. This is one of the highest water losses worldwide and is currently taking place in Germany. And particularly precarious in the example of Lüneburg: Residents pay €2.73/m³ for drinking water, but large corporations only pay €0.18/m³!
vs.
Example Altmühltaler and Aldi Nord
The Bayerischer Rundfunk reports that new wells are planned in Treuchtlingen in Central Franconia. Mineral water is filled in plastic bottles for discounters. Every year, the 250 million liters of mineral water, the cleanest deep groundwater, are pumped and another 260 million liters are pumped from other wells to make lemonade from it – in most cases it contains sugar.
Example Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen
Since the higher groundwater increasingly showed traces of environmental toxins and residues from agriculture, deeper drilling was carried out. Almost three billion liters of water are pumped up there. When water is withdrawn en masse, the water table sinks and the ground gives way – with an effect on the houses that stand on it: the houses crack and threaten to collapse.
Example Weiding, Mühldorf district
The InnFood company based in Polling in the Mühldorf district produces food for babies and small children as well as organic food. According to BR24, InnFood also plans to pump and sell deep groundwater and has submitted an application to the Mühldorf district office. The aim is to bottle mineral water for retail. The commercial use of groundwater is, however, controversial.
Appeal against this privatization
The aktion.campact.de has taken on this topic and calls for the signing of an appeal against the privatization of our water.
“The climate crisis is making water scarce – also here in Germany. Corporations like Aldi and Red Bull are exacerbating the problem because they buy our drinking water away. While the companies are making profits from it, the citizens are in danger of running out of water.”
Every period of drought exacerbates water shortages, leading many companies to purchase wells and pumping stations to secure profits despite the climate crisis. However, this means that water is becoming increasingly scarce for us citizens.
As a human right, access to clean water should take precedence over corporate interests. Therefore we demand that water supply is prioritized in the national interest and not in the hands of companies. We demand an end to the privatization of drinking water and a clear positioning in the national water strategy.
BestElements is there and supports this call
