Enhancements put forward by the Commission aim to elevate the standard of fisheries.
In the picturesque city of Homburg, located in the state of Bliesgau, a pressing environmental concern has arisen: a series of fish kills, questionable sewer network conditions, and problematic large-scale discharges. These issues have sparked concern among local environmental groups, including the BUND regional group, who are calling for a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
The city's sewer network and wastewater treatment plant are under scrutiny, as documents from local authorities suggest that the system has been overloaded for at least 15 years. During periods of drought, heavily polluted wastewater is often discharged without pretreatment into water-stressed small waters due to rain overflows in Homburg.
This situation has led to the current fish kills in Erbach, downstream of the Homburg wastewater treatment plant. The BUND believes immediate action is needed to relieve the Homburg wastewater treatment plant by pre-treating wastewater at its source.
To address these challenges, a comprehensive investigation would ideally involve identifying the causes of fish kills, mapping all discharge points, assessing the condition and capacity of the sewer infrastructure, evaluating wastewater treatment plant performance, studying climate change impacts, and implementing adaptation strategies.
Water ecologist and spokesperson for the BUND Bliesgau regional group, Adam Schmitt, has expressed concern about the city's prioritization of economic promotion over water protection and proper wastewater management. Schmitt demands urgent changes in Homburg to prioritize water protection over economic promotion and proper wastewater management.
In addition, Schmitt emphasizes the necessity of efficient measures to solve the problem of foam formation, a major issue for water protection in Homburg. Preventive action is needed to address the high load from streets, squares, and sediment stirring in the sewer network.
The city administration admits it currently has no overview of the discharge points, type, and extent of commercial and industrial discharges. To remedy this, the city of Homburg and EVS must examine how the sewer network and overflow structures can be adapted to the requirements of water protection in the face of climate change-related droughts and heavy rainfall.
The BUND regional group aims to eliminate known weaknesses in water protection promptly and in a planned manner in the Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau to significantly reduce the risk of fish kills. By addressing these issues, Homburg can ensure the health of its waterways and the well-being of its aquatic life, while also safeguarding the city's future.
- Considering the extensive documentation revealing an overloaded sewer system in Homburg for at least 15 years, there is a need for the city to invest in environmental-science strategies to pre-treat wastewater at its source, as advocated by water ecologist Adam Schmitt.
- To guarantee the health-and-wellness of aquatic life and the sustainability of the city's waterways, it is essential for Homburg to address climate-change impacts on its sewer network and wastewater treatment plant, alongside implementing necessary adaptation strategies in line with the BUND Bliesgau regional group's aims.
