New anger over the introduction of the water cent in Bavaria: Although there is not even a draft law, the Bavarian municipal council categorically rejects the state government’s planned introduction of the water abstraction fee. Such an instrument would lead to more bureaucracy and increased water fees and prices for the population, the municipal umbrella association announced on Thursday in Munich.
The introduction plans are also a “counterproductive process” because the state government has planned to reduce bureaucracy, it said. By charging a water cent, new administrative structures would have to be created, which would cost money. Alternatively, new water protection areas should be designated consistently and quickly. “Bayern is lagging far behind here,” criticized the association.
Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber (Free Voters) immediately tried to cushion the criticism: “The water cent is a central building block for the future task of water security. Our goal is an unbureaucratic water cent with a simple structure and earmarked income,” he said when asked by the German Press Agency. The water cent should particularly benefit municipal water suppliers. Those involved would be closely involved. “Criticizing the project before the content has even been discussed together is incomprehensible. The safe water supply throughout Bavaria has the highest priority.”
The law to introduce a water cent in Bavaria, which has been announced for years, is to be introduced into the cabinet by the summer break at the latest. Environment Minister Glauber announced this at the beginning of March.
The water cent is already available in 13 of 16 federal states, some for many years. Anyone who pumps out water must pay a fee. Depending on the country, the levy level varies greatly and ranges up to around 30 cents per cubic meter.
When forming a government at the end of 2023, the CSU and Free Voters agreed to introduce a water cent in this legislature. The CSU had rejected the introduction for many years because it did not want any additional burdens for people and companies in the country. In 2021, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) announced the introduction in a government statement. At that time he spoke of an average annual cost per person of around five euros.
The community assembly emphasized that the protection of groundwater is of course important: “To protect this basis of life, we need sufficient protected areas, protection from inputs and effective consumption measurement and control of all water withdrawals.” Although it is a central state task to preventively secure and protect water resources, “a water abstraction fee is not necessary for this.” If the water cent comes anyway, according to the municipal council, it must include all water withdrawals, including those from agriculture. All income would also have to be used “exclusively and specifically for preventative groundwater protection”.