City council decides to review the municipal water concept to secure the drinking water supply in the long term

The consequences of climate change are particularly noticeable in summer. Heatwaves, tropical nights and periods of drought also have a negative impact on the water supply. The increase in population is further increasing the challenges for the water supply. In the dry years of 2018, 2019 and 2020, water consumption in the Offenbach association area reached new peaks, pushing the water supply to its limits. The report concludes that bottlenecks would be possible from 2030 onwards if the population grows the most in line with forecasts and there are further dry years. If the population grows less and there are fewer dry years, the situation will be much more relaxed.

Around 90 percent of current water demand is accounted for by households and small businesses, and around 10 percent by industry and large-scale consumers.

"Securing the supply of drinking water is one of the future issues for our city. My aim is to be able to continue to provide our population with a reliable supply of drinking water in the future and also to enable more businesses to settle here so that our city can continue to be strengthened financially. The municipal water concept shows us how the supply of drinking water is doing and what we need to do to continue to secure it," says Mayor and Head of the Climate Department Sabine Groß.

"The topic has been on our agenda for a long time, which is why we have initiated a number of measures," continues Sabine Groß. From water-sensitive urban planning to the unsealing of surfaces and the expansion of sustainable rainwater use. As well as a drinking water hazard prevention ordinance that regulates what water can be used for in the event of bottlenecks. Another important step at the end of 2023 was joining the Hessisches Ried water association in order to put the drinking water supply on a broader footing.

"The Sports Office and GBM are also already focusing on saving water at the sports facilities," emphasizes Lord Mayor and Head of Sports Dr. Felix Schwenke. "Automatic sprinkler systems have been installed on almost all natural grass pitches, which can be controlled by GBM via the Internet as required. For example, the starting times, water quantities and running times can be set." In addition, a cistern system is planned and installed every time a clay pitch is converted into an artificial turf pitch. "This has already happened at the Tempelsee and Bierbrauerweg sports facilities as part of the conversions. The roof areas of the gymnasium at the Rumpenheim sports facility are connected to a cistern system. The surface water obtained in this way is used for the irrigation systems at the sports grounds."

The aim of the concept was to find out what the drinking water supply will be like in 2035 and 2050 and what potential there is to replace drinking water, for example with rainwater. In Offenbach, the potential for substituting drinking water is considered to be rather low. However, individual measures such as the use of rainwater for toilet flushing in new buildings, the further installation of cisterns at sports facilities or the increased irrigation of street trees with rainwater would be conceivable.

The concept also recommends sensitizing all private households to a more conscious and economical use of water - for example through targeted water-saving campaigns.

The municipal water concept was funded by the state of Hesse as part of the "Hessian Model for Integrated Water Resource Management Rhine-Main" (IWRM Rhine-Main). It analyzes the current supply situation, forecasts demand up to 2035 and 2050 and identifies potential for saving and substituting drinking water as well as specific recommendations for action.