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Rastatt is fighting Pfas: EUR 3.21 million for clean drinking water!
Environment Minister Thekla Walker supports Stadtwerke Rastatt with EUR 3.21 million to secure the drinking water supply against PFAS impurities.
Rastatt is fighting Pfas: EUR 3.21 million for clean drinking water!
Stadtwerke Rastatt are faced with the challenge of securing the region's drinking water after years of loading from PFAs. In 2013, contamination of the groundwater was found in its catchment area. This problem has now led to extensive measures that are promoted by state support.
Environment Minister Thekla Walker sums up the urgency of this matter: "It is crucial that we protect citizens from PFAS's health risks." Despite considerable progress in the renovation, around 1100 hectares of areas are still shown as contaminated in the Rastatt/Baden-Baden region, which makes the forecast for groundwater load significantly more difficult. All water suppliers are faced with the challenge of adapting to the new drinking water regulation, which will come into force from 2026.
Promotion and support from the country
The state of Baden-Württemberg has supported the efforts to ensure a safe drinking water supply in Rastatt with a funding of around 3.21 million euros. Of this, around 1.44 million euros are made to the fourth and last construction phase of a comprehensive project to expand the Ottersdorf waterworks. District President Sylvia M. Felder emphasizes the importance of support for municipalities with such complex challenges.
Stadtwerke Rastatt has been working on an overall concept for expanding the waterworks since 2022, which consists of four construction phases. Part of the project are the construction of a new factory hall, the expansion of the processing technology by an activated carbon level as well as the construction of new supply lines and three new wells.
Increased PFAS values in the groundwater
The situation around Pfas is not new. The monitoring of the PFC sum values in apron measuring points has shown various climbs. For example, on December 16, 2020, values of 3.475 µg/l were found at the LM166/211-7 measuring point, an increase of 2.458 µg/l in April 2020. The increase in PFOA content is also alarming, from 0.99 µg/l to 1.8 µg/l. These values confirm the challenging location in which the municipal utilities and the region are located and make significant efforts necessary to ensure water quality.
Stadtwerke Rastatt do everything they can to overcome these challenges and to keep drinking water quality at a high level. Cooperation with the state and the consistent implementation of the renovation measures are essential to protect the health of citizens in the long term and maintain trust in water supply.