Switzerland: Conflicts over water

Farmers and fishermen, but also communities and private individuals have different needs when water becomes scarce during droughts. A panel discussion in water-rich Switzerland provided an example.

A hundred years ago, the canton of Aargau faced completely different challenges when it came to dealing with water. Back then, the aim was to tame and control the water masses in order to gain land and protect against flooding. This was what Natália Güdel-Krempaska, project manager for the cantonal water strategy, said in her introduction to a panel discussion recently at Naturama in Aarau.

There has now been a paradigm shift. Today, water can become scarce. Even in the water castle Switzerland, as Bettina Walch, the moderator of the following panel discussion, put it. But the way water is handled has also changed. Rivers are given more space, culverted streams are revitalized. Buffer for flooding is created. And more habitat for animals and plants. In the canton of Aargau, 27 percent of natural watercourses are still culverted, said Güdel-Krempeska. That is a comparatively high figure. The average across Switzerland is ten percent.

Unsealing forecourts, using roof water for toilet flushing

Dry summers have raised awareness that water can quickly become a scarce commodity. The aim of the cantonal water strategy is to further increase this general awareness of the value of water. This should result in more private forecourts being unsealed or, particularly in new buildings, rainwater from the roof being used to flush toilets.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the topic of “Heat in Aargau: How to deal with water shortages?”. It became clear that there are areas of tension when it comes to using water. Aargau’s vegetable producers have had a difficult year, said their president, Toni Suter. For once, farmers have not had to “jump after” the water. Nevertheless, they have suffered massive yield losses. At his farm in Dättwil, he was able to use 95 percent of the water from the roof of his farm. He added the last five percent because of the lime content of the groundwater.

“It’s bad when streams dry up”

Farmers use water from rivers and streams to irrigate their crops. The canton grants permits for this. How long it maintains these permits during dry periods can lead to conflicts. This was evident in the statements made by Kurt Braun, president of the Aargau fishing association. He looks closely at where the canton grants permits for water extraction. He sometimes feels that it takes too long for the canton to issue a ban during dry periods. 75 of the native fish species are extinct or threatened, he said. “It is bad when streams dry up. They have a lot of weight,” he stressed.

Susette Burger, head of the Water Use Section, spoke about dealing with actors who have different needs. “The most difficult situation is when a dry summer drags on,” she said. In other words: “When a farmer calls every five minutes and says he needs more water.”

The groundwater reserves in Aargau have recovered thanks to the high rainfall and little drought. Walter Wyler, President of the Suhrental Groundwater Association, pointed out that the groundwater level reacts very slowly to rain and drought.

Controversial filling of swimming pools

During dry periods, water from drinking water supplies can also become scarce. Nevertheless, people fill their pools or wash their vehicles. While the canton is responsible for water extraction from bodies of water, the municipalities are responsible for bans on filling pools. The panel also expressed the view that responsibility for such bans would be better with the canton than with the municipalities. On the other hand, it was heard that municipalities know the local conditions better.

Does a ban on filling swimming pools always make sense during droughts? Wyler told an anecdote from a community about the human factor. After such a ban, water consumption initially rose sharply. His explanation: “People quickly hoarded water.”

It is conceivable that the water supply in your own community will fail. Wyler therefore advises the population to store a supply of water in the basement. 12 liters per person. “That’s enough for three days.”

Source: Zofinger Tagblatt (German)

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