Bavarian water suppliers and farmers call for drinking water protection

Ahead of a meeting of federal and state agricultural ministers in Würzburg, municipal water suppliers, nature conservationists, and organic farmers in Bavaria are calling for increased drinking water protection.

In a joint statement by the Association of Municipal Utilities (VKU) in Bavaria and the State Association for Organic Farming in Bavaria, stakeholders highlighted that climate change is already impacting fields through long dry periods, falling groundwater levels, and increased heavy rainfall. These factors threaten the soil's ability to act as a water reservoir.

Marcus Steurer, chairman of the VKU in Bavaria, emphasized that clean tap water begins on agricultural land and argued that agricultural subsidies should specifically support measures that protect groundwater, such as humus buildup through crop rotation. Additionally, the Bund Naturschutz (BN) noted that heat and drought are central challenges, urging policies that enable the landscape to better absorb and store water for use during dry periods.