Bach dried out: Zurich taps Bach, Thurgau forbids it – “The alarm limit has been reached”
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Bach dried outZurich taps Bach, Thurgau forbids it – “The alarm limit has been reached”
The neighboring cantons of Zurich and Thurgau do not agree: while a common stream is pumped out on the one hand, this is prohibited on the other. The Aqua Viva association warns of the consequences of dehydration.
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A stream flows from the canton of Zurich through the canton of Thurgau into the Rhine.
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On the Zurich side it is called Mülibach, on the Thurgau side Geisslibach.
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While the water is tapped off in Zurich and used to irrigate agricultural land, this is forbidden in its neighbors.
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The reason is the danger of dehydration due to the current heat.
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If the pumping continues, the consequences for the ecology in the creek will be fatal, explains Aqua Viva.
One stream, two names and three parties: The situation on the canton border between Zurich and Thurgau is special. The reason is a body of water that the two cantons disagree on how to use it. Specifically, it is about the Mülibach, which flies from Waltalingen ZH for almost three kilometers through the canton of Zurich before it reaches the canton of Thurgau and is referred to as Geisslibach from that moment on. This flies seven kilometers in Thurgau, up to the confluence with the Rhine.
So that the water does not dry up and because the creek is more important as a habitat for endangered grayling and other creatures, there is no permission on the Thurgau side to tap the water for irrigation of the adjacent farm. Instead, the farmers are supplied with a kilometer-long line from the Rhine. The legal situation upstream in the canton of Zurich is different: there, water can and is taken for the farmers from the Mülibach, as the «Schaffhausen news» (Paid items) report.
“At some point the stream will be gone”
Andri Bryner, board member of Aqua Viva and hydrologist, considers the behavior on the Zurich side to be critical: “The water layer in the stream is getting thinner and the water temperature is constantly rising.” This is fatal for fish that escape from the overly warm Rhine into the stream. “Some of the Rhine has 27 degrees, which is deadly for the grayling and the Geisslibach dries up, then they no longer have a place to retreat,” says Bryner.
But not only the fish suffer, the entire ecology will collapse sooner or later if people are not careful. “At some point it is no longer a stream, but a chain of ponds,” warn the hydrologist. He can also understand the situation of the farmers, but the alarm limit has now been reached.
Bach is essential for farmers
Heinz Ehmann, head of the water quality and use department in the Thurgau Office for the Environment, said on request that the responsible people in Zurich were in contact. “About two weeks ago, we drew the attention of our neighbors to the fact that we were heading towards a water abstraction ban here,” says Ehmann. This came into force in the canton of Thurgau on July 22nd.
Ehmann finds it okay that water is still being pumped out in Zurich. “You can only intervene when a law is broken and they don’t do that.” This is also emphasized by Wolfgang Bollack, spokesman for the building department in the canton of Zurich: “The water level is not a problem. There is enough water available.” After weighing the interests, the canton does not consider a ban to be proportionate. “It would result in the total loss of several hectares of vegetable crops,” explains Bollack.
Ban coming in 2024
But: “The permitted amount of water that can be tapped is limited.” In addition, the blocking time for water withdrawal has been extended to 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Excluded is the body of water from new plantings. Bryner, from Aqua Viva, is not convinced that these measures will be enough: “It is an open question whether this will be enough to prevent the stream from collapsing at all or even completely.” The concession that allows water withdrawal in Zurich will run until 2024, when a ban will come into effect there too.
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