Drinking water in Haiterbach: Local council decides on risk research!

Drinking water in Haiterbach: Local council decides on risk research!

There is currently intensive discussion about the quality of drinking water in the tranquil town of Haiterbach. The drinking water catchment areas must be comprehensively assessed in accordance with the new Drinking Water Catchment Area Ordinance, which came into force at the end of 2023. Mayor Kerstin Brenner recently informed the council about the need to carry out these assessments, which include a catchment area analysis, risk assessment and an investigation program. However, the proposal to carry out the investigation under joint responsibility with the Calw District Office was rejected as this does not fall within the authority's area of responsibility schwarzwaelder-bote.de reported.

Now every municipality is faced with the challenge of finding independent solutions to assess their water supply. The Haiterbach local council has already compared two offers to carry out the investigations. The engineering firm Alwin Eppler offered its services for 46,981 euros, while Wald + Corbe Consulting was significantly cheaper with a price of 11,130 euros. The local council ultimately decided on the more cost-effective offer from Wald + Corbe Consulting.

Pollution from nitrates and PFAS

Water master Andreas Klenk pointed out that despite the previous safety in Haiterbach, contamination from nitrates and PFAS – per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds – cannot be ruled out. Deep wells in the region are currently harmless, but the possible danger from these substances requires regular checking of the water. The local council was also informed that although the information available about water protection areas was available, additional expenditure for the investigation could be viewed as unnecessary, as Markus Häußler (UBL) noted.

The new European legal framework should be seen as fitting with the discussion about water quality and protective measures. This aims to regulate the use of risky substances such as PFAS. A new article in the Drinking Water Directive stipulates that the total concentration of PFAS must not exceed 0.50 µg/L, while the quality requirement for individual substances is 0.10 µg/L. These standards aim to secure drinking water supplies for current and future generations, as dvgw.de explains in detail.

A look beyond the borders

In a broader context, it also shows how important water quality is considered in other regions. For example, there are campers at Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico who are critical of the water quality of the body of water but still appreciate the scenery and tranquility of the park. Such reports give an idea of ​​how different regions treat their natural resources and offer an exciting perspective on the value of good water quality, whether in Haiti or the American West, as thedyrt.com reports.

Overall, it is important for communities to reliably guarantee quality standards in drinking water and to identify possible dangers at an early stage. The coming months will show how Haiterbach and other municipalities can overcome the challenges and continue to maintain the water supply for their citizens at the highest level.