The document summarizes the key claims of the DVGW Water Impulse campaign in Germany. The 5 claims are: (1) Enshrine the priority of public water supply in law, (2) Avoid pollution from various sources including new products, agriculture, and chemicals, (3) Apply DVGW standards consistently, (4) Conserve water infrastructure asset values to avoid intergenerational debt, and (5) Develop local and regional water visions to plan for climate change challenges. The document argues that these actions are needed to address threats to water supply and quality that have received less attention in recent decades.

1. A sceptical view on the legal value and appreciation
of our drinking water quality in Germany
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, Chairman of Board of Directors; DVGW –
German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water
Presentation at the 12th Meeting of the OECD Water Governance Initiative
20 – 21 June 2019 in Berlin, Germany

2. 2
UN Sustainability Development Goals
• Water is a vital, indispensable good that can
not be replaced.
• The basic supply of drinking water as food
No. 1 is thus the central social, inter-
generational task and of general interest.
• In Germany, drinking water is available in
excellent quality and sufficient quantity 24/7
• However, society must face the new
challenges of water supply in solidarity.
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

3. 3
Today‘s dilemma
––––––
Like a duck to water, we are
used to a water supply that
has functioned perfectly for
decades. Therefore, supply
and availability of water at
highest quality have lost
attention by politics,
legislation and society.
––––––
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

4. 4
With the campaign WATER IMPULSE we address the dilemma, support
The National Water Dialogue and pursue strategic communication goals
Anchoring the "value of water" and an efficient water
supply with key stakeholders from politics, the public
and society
Raising the awareness of stakeholders about external
influences on water supply, which they can not solve
solely on their own.
Long-term preservation and development or
upgrading of water infrastructures - because they are
indispensable for a sustainable development.
1.
2.
3.
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

5. The German Gas & Water Association
5
160 Years DVGW is the first Technical-Scientific
Association of the World
700 FTE
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

6. Contribution to and appraisal of
The National Water Dialogue
by focusing on
Threats to water supply and drinking water quality:
five problems - five claims
6

7. 7
No. 1 - Creeping loss of value and appreciation of water supply
• In the last 10 years, only 26
protected areas have been
established
• Currently 10 sourcing areas in the
process loop and 135 sites are
still awaiting designation as
protected area
Designation of water conservation
areas using the example of Lower
Saxony
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

8. 8
• Priority of water supply in the law (WHG)
has been deleted
• Water rights are capped and/or only
granted as permission
• Number of water protection area
designation far below target
• Borders of water protection areas often
politically determined
• Priority for water supply is no longer in the
focus of spatial planning plans
No. 1 - Creeping loss of value and appreciation of water supply
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

9. 9
• Priority of water supply in the law (WHG)
has been deleted
• Water rights are capped and/or only
granted as permission
• Number of water protection area
designation far below target
• Borders of water protection areas often
politically determined
• Priority for water supply is no longer in the
focus of spatial planning plans
No. 1 - Creeping loss of value and appreciation of water supply
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW
Claim No. 1
Enshrine priority for water by law!

10. 10
Example: Nitrate
21.06.18
Supreme court
confirms validity
of all items
27.10.16
Prosecution of
Germany by EU
01.02.19
German Government
submits proposal with
counter actions
April 19
Escalation in public
No. 2 - Increased freight and pollution from various sources
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

11. No. 2 - Increased freight and pollution from various sources
11
• Variety of new substances in waters through
new products and consumption behaviour
• Increased farming and agriculture intensity
• Rising consumption of pharmaceutical
products and increased freight of chemical
substances
• Approval procedure lacks clear focus on
persistence and mobility of substances
within the water cycle
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

12. No. 2 - Increased freight and pollution from various sources
12
• Variety of new substances in waters through
new products and consumption behaviour
• Increased farming and agriculture intensity
• Rising consumption of pharmaceutical
products and increased freight of chemical
substances
• Approval procedure lacks clear focus on
persistence and mobility of substances
within the water cycle
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW
Claim No. 2
Avoid pollution!

13. No. 3 – Against business as usual and ignorance
13
Selection fault
• Delegation of responsibility to
unsuitable employees
Instructions fault
• Operating instructions are
missing or incomplete
Monitoring fault
• No or only simplified control
General responsibility for
company management to act in
compliance with acknowledged
rules and standards
(OWiG § 130  fine)
Business as usual mentality might
expose companies to risks and faults
they are not aware of:
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

14. 14
Thought does not always mean said.
Said does not always mean heard.
Heard does not always mean correctly understood.
Correctly understood does not always mean agreed.
Agreed does not always mean applied.
Applied is not always mean maintained.
No. 3 – Against business as usual and ignorance
by Konrad Lorenz
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

15. 15
No. 3 – Against business as usual and ignorance
Thought does not always mean said.
Said does not always mean heard.
Heard does not always mean correctly understood.
Correctly understood does not always mean agreed.
Agreed does not always mean applied.
Applied is not always mean maintained.
Claim No. 3
Apply DVGW standards
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

16. No. 4 - Intergenerational contract in danger
16
Rehabilitation rate of main % supply lines by federal state
• The lion’s share of today's infrastructure
was created or renewed in the 1950s and
1960s.
• The age and condition of the pipeline
network and the need for maintenance are
very different (party unknown) in different
regions of Germany.
• Proactive investment strategies and asset
management are required to avoid
“intergenerational infrastructure debts"
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

17. 17
• Substantial conservation of assets and
networks is often not top of municipal agenda
• Water supply turns out to be a limiting factor
for local and regional development
• Intergenerational contract may be
jeopardized as fees are charged which are
politically set instead of been based on
technical needs
No. 4 - Intergenerational contract in danger
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

18. 18
No. 4 - Intergenerational contract in danger
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW
• Substantial conservation of assets and
networks is often not top of municipal agenda
• Water supply turns out to be a limiting factor
for local and regional development
• Intergenerational contract may be
jeopardized as fees are charged which are
politically set instead of been based on
technical needs
Claim No. 4
Conserve asset values!

19. Climate change is having already a
significant impact on water supply
19
Normalizeddailysupply
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Increase in peak demand in dry periods
Time sequence of annual average temperatures for Germany
from 1871 to 2017
(scale ranges from 6.6 ° C to 10.3 ° C )
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW
No. 5 - Hesitancy to plan future

20. 20
• In the future it will be hotter, drier
and more extreme
• In time-critical emergencies,
there is need for mandatory
policies and contingency plans
• Regional visions of the future
help to adjust to climate change
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW
No. 5 - Hesitancy to plan future

21. 21
• In the future it will be hotter, drier
and more extreme
• In time-critical emergencies,
there is a need for mandatory
policies and contingency plans
• Regional visions of the future
help to adjust to climate change
No. 5 - Hesitancy to plan future
Claim No. 5
Design local water visions!
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

22. Summary of claims of the DVGW Water Impulse campaign
22
The priority of public water supply has to be enshrined in law as a rationale
against competing usage claims.
Requirements of the Water Resources Act must be binding for professional law
and licensing procedures of other economic sectors. Manufacturers also bear
responsibility for water protection with their products and must be obliged to
carry out risk analyses and risk assessments. Compliance with these
requirements must be rigorously controlled.
DVGW regulations must be applied consistently by utilities and operators and
monitored by the authorities for compliance.
Preservation of the substance and value of the water supply infrastructure must
be ensured by all municipalities and water suppliers in the interests of society as
a whole, in order to counteract the impending intergenerational infrastructure
debt.
In order to meet the challenges of climate change, countries, municipalities and
actors in the water industry must develop local and regional visions 2030-2050-
2100. The suppliers then must work out their specific supply, precautionary and
crisis concepts.
1
2
3
4
5
1
3
24
5
Enshrine priority
for water by law!
Conserve asset
values!
Apply DVGW
standards
Design local
water visions!
Avoid pollutions!
Prof. Dr. Gerald Linke, CEO DVGW

23. Thank you for
your attention
www.wasser-impuls.de