Despite dried-up springs and forests threatened by drought damage in Saarland, Environment Minister Berg states that significantly more groundwater has been formed than needed. The fact that springs, wetlands, rivulets, and small streams in Saarland are already dried up or threatened with drying out, or that forests partially show massive drought damage, does not seem to bother Environment Minister Berg.
The recharge of groundwater has repeatedly been the subject of intense discussions in recent years. Whether in the attempt of commercial water extraction in Kirkel, in the investigations into the controversial flooding of mine water, or more recently in the settlement discussion around SVOLT on the Linslerfeld, the question of groundwater security has always been central. The Greens and environmental organizations have repeatedly pointed out that the figures used for groundwater recharge in Saarland are outdated. The last reliable studies date back to 1995! Although new data have been announced repeatedly, they have not yet been published.
In this respect, it seems, to put it mildly, highly questionable that Environment Minister Berg is commenting on the water resources in Saarland in this way at this point in time. Especially since much more recent figures are available in neighboring regions such as the Palatinate Forest. Accordingly, the groundwater recharge there has long since been revised downward.
„The consequences of climate change are unfortunately noticeable to all citizens. Nature is reaching its limits of endurance. But in Saarland, we don't have to worry about a possible water shortage? I can only perceive this statement by Environment Minister Berg as cynical. She promises a water supply master plan. If this plan does not exist, I wonder on what basis she then comes to this conclusion?“ asks Torsten Reif, Secretary General of the Greens in Saarland. „Instead of calling on citizens to use the water resource carefully, which probably would have been expected by everyone, she essentially grants a free pass for unrestricted use of our groundwater. In my view, that is not responsible!“
It certainly does not help to keep drilling deeper to reach deep groundwater and then sell the idea of a "perfect world." We must not only think of groundwater as drinking or usable water; we need to consider the entire landscape's water balance, especially in times of the climate crisis.
