Dead fish and polluted waters: manure disaster shocks Esgrus!

Dead fish and polluted waters: manure disaster shocks Esgrus!

Cologne is really in a state of emergency with the weather at the moment. As temperatures rise, a frightening environmental incident is causing excitement and concern among area residents. A defect in a biogas plant led to a significant amount of manure leaking into local waterways, which had tragic consequences for the local wildlife.

On June 14, 2025, attentive residents noticed a devastating cloudiness and discovered numerous dead fish in the Esgrusser Mühlenstrom and the Lippingau. After the incident, it was learned that many fish, including eels, brown trout and sea trout, died along a stretch of about four kilometers. Even invertebrate species such as stream amphipods were not spared. Thorsten Roos, head of the district's environmental department, stated emphatically that this stretch of water is "dead" and full recovery will take months to years, depending on the return of the various species. The perpetrator, a farmer, has now been found after he failed to report his responsibility. The Lower Water Authority is now checking what regulatory consequences await him.

Similar incidents are increasing

This tragedy in Cologne is not the first incident of this kind. A similar incident also occurred in Sersheim on May 1, 2025, when around 50 cubic meters of liquid manure from a biogas plant spilled into the Metter River. The water quality was so poor that it was noticeably brown in color and smelled pitiful. As a result, anglers and experts found at least a hundred dead fish and crayfish in the surrounding waters. An investigation revealed that a defective container in the biogas plant was the cause of this massive contamination, although negligent or intentional actions on the part of the operator were ruled out. There was no danger to the public at any time, according to the district office, but the long-term ecological consequences are still uncertain.

Violent manure incidents like this are not uncommon and occur regularly. According to experts, such incidents occur in the region about three times a year. The effects of over-fertilization on local ecosystems are devastating. When fertilization is excessive, important microorganisms that are essential to the health of aquatic ecosystems disappear. These are important not only for water purification, but also for a variety of other biological processes. Intensive agriculture and the frequent use of manure and fertilizers consequently endanger biodiversity both on land and in water, as the information eskp.de shows.

Action is required

The popularity of agriculture should never come at the expense of nature. It is of utmost importance that those responsible for such incidents are held more accountable in the future. The Lower Water Authority in Cologne has already emphasized that all citizens are called upon to immediately report any abnormalities in the waters. A sharply increasing lack of oxygen in the water, which is due to manure discharge, is a serious alarm sign and must not be ignored. It is estimated that a return to original biodiversity will take a considerable amount of time.

As always, police and emergency services remain ready to act quickly in the event of another incident. The affected waters should urgently be kept an eye on, because nature is not only a habitat for numerous creatures, but is also indispensable for us humans.