When the river becomes the source
In times of climate change, increasing drought and rising heat stress, drinking water suppliers are coming under pressure even in water-rich regions such as Germany. The summer months in particular are pushing the infrastructure to its limits. In the Vorderpfalz region, an ambitious project is now being discussed that breaks new ground in drinking water supply: the use of Rhine water via so-called bank filtrate.
The challenge: water supply in transition
Longer periods of drought, more frequent heatwaves and stagnating groundwater recharge - these are just some of the consequences of climate change that are increasingly challenging our water supply. Significantly lower groundwater increases have been observed in Rhineland-Palatinate in recent years. Although water levels are still sufficient in many places, this could change in the long term.
In cities like Ludwigshafen, water pumps run around the clock on hot summer days. This continuous load not only shortens the service life of the technology, but also poses organizational challenges for the suppliers. The focus is therefore increasingly on alternative sources.
Bank filtrate as a solution?
One way of making water extraction future-proof is to use so-called bank filtrate. This is river water that is already partially purified by natural filtration in the ground on its way to the well. In combination with groundwater, this creates a new source of drinking water - technically feasible, but with challenges.
Technische Werke Ludwigshafen (TWL) is currently examining the feasibility of such a waterworks on the Rhine together with ten other suppliers from the region. The aim is to cover up to 20 percent of the region's drinking water requirements with Rhine water in the future.
Risks and challenges
Despite its potential, bank filtrate must be treated much more intensively than pure groundwater. Chemical residues, trace substances and micropollutants require modern treatment technologies - such as the use of activated carbon or ozone. Environmental and ecosystem aspects also play a major role: what impact would such a plant have on the neighboring landscapes? And how much water can be sustainably extracted from the Rhine?
Networking instead of isolated solutions
In addition to the actual extraction of water, another approach is crucial: the increased networking of water suppliers. New pipelines should help to better distribute peak loads and cushion outages. The idea is not new, but implementing it in a network is progress with vision - especially in view of future conflicts of use between agriculture, industry and households.
A look into the future
It remains to be seen whether the waterworks on the Rhine will actually be built. A comprehensive feasibility study is now to clarify what costs, ecological consequences and technical requirements would be involved. However, one thing is clear: preparing for possible extreme weather conditions is not a luxury, but a necessary precautionary measure.
Because if we don't plan today, we may face serious supply bottlenecks tomorrow. Or, as one project manager aptly put it: "It's better to spend money with foresight than to be accused of not having acted."
Our contribution to SebaKMT®
As a specialist in modern leakage and network monitoring technology, SebaKMT® supports water suppliers worldwide in minimizing losses, managing networks efficiently and increasing supply security - especially in times of change. With intelligent systems such as SmartEAR® and POSEYEDON®, we are making an important contribution to the sustainable drinking water supply of the future.