FWM does not want to dismantle wells in Hofstetten for the time being

The long history of the Hofstetten fountain gallery gets another chapter. Anyone who thought that the decision to dismantle the wells could soon disappear is wrong. In 2017, the Zweckverband Fernwasserversorgung Mittelmain (FWM) set itself the deadline to provide the necessary funds in the business plan by 2020. However, now the time has run out and the required money is missing. There are other important issues with higher priority, says plant manager Eva von Vietinghoff-Scheel, explaining the delay. The association assembly has therefore decided to dispense with the backfilling required by the State Office for the Environment (LfU) and the Aschaffenburg Water Management Office until further notice.

“At the FWM, more must be done structurally and organizationally than we originally thought,” she explained. She named the Zellingen elevated tank as the greatest challenge. A supposedly minor problem with the pipelines has turned into a complex general renovation. A major accident in 2018 put the drinking water supply of 50,000 consumers at risk. “Inwardly,” as she admitted, also because of the high sums that had flowed into the project, “blocked”.

15 million euros invested, well never used

The total of six wells were drilled in 1980 and 1981 ?? for the impressive sum of 15 million euros, financed with state subsidies. Since then, they have not promoted drinking water. The doubts about the quality of the drinking water and concerns about the effects on the water table were too great. After the municipal company Würzburg took over the management in 2016, the FWM nevertheless considered keeping the wells at least partially as a reserve.

There has not yet been a legally binding decision requesting the FWM to dismantle. The FWM does not want to “act in” hasty obedience “, explained Professor Alexander Schraml, who at the beginning of the year gave up his position as plant manager to his younger successor, Alexander Pfenning, but continues to support further developments commercially. In Hofstetten, “millions were built in at the instigation of the state,” he stated. The sum estimated at around 500,000 euros cannot be conveyed to the fee payer. There is currently a lack of the necessary “human and economic capacities”.

District Administrator Eberth: Existing wells that don’t hurt

District Administrator Thomas Eberth, who recently succeeded Eberhard Nuss as Chairman of the Association, confirmed this assessment. The wells were not a burden for the FWM. There is therefore no need for action. “We have existing wells here that actually don’t hurt us.”

However, a prerequisite for postponement is that the flood or rainwater cannot mix with the groundwater even in the event of a flood. Contamination of the groundwater must be ruled out. How this can be guaranteed should therefore be clarified in discussions with the water management office. Should this still insist on rapid dismantling, the FWM requires a legally binding decision with more precise information on the requirements as a prerequisite for dismantling.

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