Priority of public water supply for water withdrawals

The Bavarian state parliament has voted on an amendment from the ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS faction. The application referred to the state government's draft law to amend the Bavarian Water Act and other legal provisions. Specifically, the question was what priority should be given to water withdrawals for supplying the population over other uses. The amendment sought to change the wording in the bill so that water withdrawals for the purpose of public water supply to the population have priority over water withdrawals for other purposes. The applicants justified this by saying that the drinking water supply is a task of municipal public services and should be reliably ensured by municipal water suppliers. The background is a major reform of Bavarian water law. The state government's draft law provides, among other things, for the introduction of a water abstraction fee, the strengthening of the public water supply, improvements in flood protection, a digital water book and accelerated water law procedures. The amendment was rejected with 128 votes against. 37 MPs voted yes, there were no abstentions.