Industry and residents clash over water near Berlin

For years, residents of Baruth have noticed their groundwater levels dropping and their gardens requiring more frequent watering. Meanwhile, two beverage companies, Red Bull and Rauch, are planning to expand their production in the area, located 60 kilometers south of Berlin. The companies plan to build a canning factory and additional facilities in the middle of a protected water area.

The town's waterworks license allows them to extract a fixed amount of groundwater each year, with only 8% going towards supplying the town's 4,300 residents with drinking water. The remaining 92% is reserved for the companies, enough to cover the needs of 57,000 people. However, the exact amount of water the companies consume is not publicly disclosed, as it is legal under current contracts.

Irina Engelhardt, a hydrogeologist from the Technical University in Berlin, argues that the contracts are outdated and based on inaccurate information. Groundwater levels, recharge rates, and land use have all changed significantly since then. Engelhardt, along with a citizens' initiative, is calling for new, independent assessments and clearer communication.

Residents are concerned about the lack of transparency regarding how much water the companies use and pay for their extraction. Andreas Marx, a drought researcher, believes that every decision and contract related to water use should be open to the public. In Germany, water is considered a public commodity, not privately owned, and all decisions should be transparent.

Drought researcher Andreas Marx states that Germany, although still water-rich, is facing changing water balances due to higher temperatures, increased evaporation, and reduced replenishment of groundwater. The water balance in Brandenburg is particularly concerning, as 95% of the state's drinking water comes from groundwater. Tesla's Gigafactory in Grünheide has a permit to extract up to 1.4 million cubic meters of water per year, and plans to expand production to 7,500 vehicles per week.

The planned large mine in Spremberg could further exacerbate the water situation. The mine would extract copper from depths of up to 1,200 meters and requires extensive treatment for the saline and sulfurous water. However, the proposed treatment plant is insufficient to handle the necessary cleaning to safely discharge the water into the Spree river.

As lignite extraction is set to end by 2038, groundwater currently pumped into the river from the mines will no longer be available. This could result in the river carrying up to 75% less water during dry summers, with significant consequences for water resources reaching Berlin. One potential solution is artificial groundwater recharge, storing excess water from high rainfall periods for later use.