Extreme dry spells, shorter spring periods: Groundwater tables in Germany are declining. Prof. Jörg E. Drewes of the Chair of Urban Water Systems Engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) explains why the use of purified wastewater effluents could be a solution to future potable water shortages.
Professor Drewes, where does our drinking water come from?
Most drinking water in Germany is taken from groundwater. This is ideal, since the natural subsurface already filters out pathogens and harmful substances from the water. And groundwater resources are well protected and relatively stable with regard to environmental factors such as temperature. But groundwater resources are limited at many locations in Germany. ...
