Saxony wants to make its water supply crisis-proof

Saxony wants to make the water supply crisis-proof in times of climate change. "In the future, we must strengthen the resilience of the water supply and, as a water industry, manage water resources more precisely than in the past," said Environment Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU) during a specialist government statement in the state parliament.

Increasing challenges for water management

"Water is our most important foodstuff and the indispensable basis for quality of life, economic strength and social stability. We have achieved a lot, but the challenges posed by heat, drought and heavy rainfall as well as structural change and growing usage demands require us to act in a more resilient, networked and forward-looking manner," said the Minister. The goal is safe, sustainable and intergenerationally just water management for the whole of Saxony.

Catch-up process with western federal states completed

"If we look at the past 35 years, we can see that the investments in water management have paid off," emphasized the Minister. Great progress has been made in all areas. The process of catching up with the western federal states had been successfully completed in water management. In terms of flood protection, Saxony is even exemplary compared to the rest of Germany.

Adapting the water supply to the consequences of climate change and improving crisis resilience would mean further investments on a considerable scale, said the minister. "Over the next few years, facilities from the GDR era and the 1990s will be in need of renovation or refurbishment." Structural change in the lignite regions and new industrial settlements also require measures with regard to water.

Investment needs amount to 13.7 billion euros by 2045

"The Association of Municipal Enterprises in Saxony estimates that 13.7 billion euros will be needed for investment in the water supply sector by 2045 - that is 690 million euros per year, of which around 10 to 15 percent is due to climate change," said von Breitenbuch.

Flood protection program to be continued

The CDU politician recalled the first devastating flood in Saxony after reunification. In August 2002, 21 people lost their lives and almost 6.2 billion euros worth of damage was caused. Of the 749 measures in the state's own flood protection program, 594 have already been implemented, said the Minister. "Due to limited financial leeway, it is necessary to evaluate and update the flood protection program. Particular attention must be paid to the long-term maintenance of existing flood protection facilities. This must not be cut back."