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Essen (dpa / lnw) - The water expert Monika Raschke from the BUND considers a step model to be conceivable for the lowering of the minimum water quantities in the Ruhr sought by the Ruhrverband.
This could allow lowering of the water levels at certain fill levels of the dams, said Raschke of the German press agency.
The water management association wants to achieve a permanent lowering of the legally stipulated, so-called minimum runoff, in order to be better equipped for climate change.
In the past twelve years, this has resulted in significantly less rainfall in the Ruhr catchment area.
Drinking water for 4.6 million people is obtained from the Ruhr.
At the same time, the Ruhr must absorb treated wastewater.
The change in the law is intended to make water management in the dams easier for the association and increase security of supply.
Raschke sits for the Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) as well as the nature conservation associations NABU and the State Association for Nature Conservation and Environment (LNU) as an advisory member in the association assembly of the Ruhrverband.
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On the one hand, she called it “absolutely understandable that the Ruhrverband does not feel like shaking parties”.
On the other hand, the planned measures should not lead to “even more living beings withdrawing from the waters of North Rhine-Westphalia” and thus drive species extinction.
The increasing warming of the waters due to climate change would be intensified by less water, which is bad for the entire "Ruhr community".
Even with less water, the pollutant concentrations are higher.
"The sewage treatment plants discharge just as many pollutants in dry seasons as in rainy seasons."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210307-99-721240 / 2
Water associations in NRW
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Ruhr Association Act
PM Ministry of Environment and Ruhr Association from January 18, 2021