The Seligenstadt city council relies on insight in the event of a possible drinking water emergency and rejects threats of punishment.
Seligenstadt – Urgent appeal for responsible behavior of the population in view of an impending drinking water emergency or threat of regulatory coercive measures to achieve the same goal? The question has been answered for Seligenstadt.
In cooperation with the Offenbach City and District Water Supply Association (ZWO) and with a view to its introduction of a groundwater traffic light, the magistrate should start a suitable information campaign for the population. This was decided by the city council with the majority of the CDU/FDP coalition and the approval of the FWS and SPD. “The aim must be to make all citizens even more aware of the need to use the important resource of water sparingly.”
Greens in Seligenstadt fail with danger prevention regulation
On the other hand, the Greens parliamentary group failed with its initiative to commission the magistrate before the beginning of the summer period with a “danger prevention regulation on the restriction of the consumption of drinking water”. The negative forecasts in the course of climate change, according to the Greens’ argument, have come true “and as a result, urgently needed groundwater recharge will foreseeably be too low or even fail to materialize.” In their justification, the Greens refer to the hazard prevention ordinance of the city of Dreieich (article “In the event of an emergency…”).
Water is a precious commodity and it is up to the city council to take measures to protect the groundwater, said FDP parliamentary group leader Susanne Schäfer. However, this does not succeed with the control proposed by the Greens via a regulatory order. Rather, the water traffic light is a good start.
Seligenstadt city councilor: Groundwater inventory of the ZWO is not sufficient
With the water protection concept announced by the ZWO, Schäfer continues, the broad masses of the associated municipalities are in demand and not individual cities. CDU colleague Stephan Wallisch referred to the general framework conditions: brisk construction activity (social housing construction), densification and influx. The groundwater stock of the ZWO is not sufficient anyway. These are problems that the Greens “simply sweep under the table”. CDU parliamentary group leader Oliver Steidl emphasized that the threat of punishment was short-sighted, and that the arrangement favored by the Greens was an “encroachment on fundamental rights”.
The city council cannot save the climate and can only make a small contribution, emphasized FDP politician René Rock and recalled the announcement by the federal and state governments that they wanted to build new apartments. The Rhine-Main area does not supply itself with its own water, but is supplied from the Vogelsberg and also via the Hessian Ried. If the region is to continue to grow, Rock continues, “it is necessary for us to buy additional quantities of water. With coercive measures, we lose people’s trust.” This leads to observation of the neighbors and is a regrettable development.
Seligenstadt coalition: sensitize citizens to the topic of water
While FWS politician Hagen Oftring signaled his parliamentary group’s approval of both applications, SPD parliamentary group leader Marius Müller spoke of “organized irresponsibility” in the direction of the coalition. It’s about public welfare, and it can’t simply be passed on to the district or country.
Despite periods of rain in the meantime, the groundwater deficit has not been remedied, argued Green Party leader Silke Rückert-Urban. Therefore, it makes sense to issue the order. On the other hand, the coalition motion falls short and does not address the emergency regulation (1993). “Extra water supplies are the pinnacle. That is irresponsible and lacks solidarity with future generations.”
The coalition factions CDU and FDP are in favor of “further raising public awareness of this important issue”. The insufficient groundwater formation is to be alleviated by the purchase of additional water supply quantities. The magistrate should work to ensure that additional supply volumes from the special-purpose association enable the development of the “Westring” residential area. (By Michael Hofmann)
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