German water suppliers face high infrastructure investment needs

A survey conducted among municipal water suppliers within the Thüga Group, Germany's largest network of municipal energy and water utilities, reveals a significant need for infrastructure investment. Approximately 86 percent of respondents identified their investment requirements for securing future water supplies as high or very high.

Challenges such as increasing periods of drought, declining groundwater levels, and changing precipitation patterns due to climate change are forcing providers to invest heavily in water extraction, storage, and network systems. However, a financing gap has emerged, with 76 percent of surveyed companies stating that current water prices are insufficient to cover the necessary costs for modernization and expansion.