Electricity lines under Langeoog: Is our drinking water in danger?

Electricity lines under Langeoog: Is our drinking water in danger?

Langeoog, Deutschland - The idyllic East Frisian island of Langeoog is currently in the focus of explosive discussions. The reason is the plans of the network operator Tennet to move eight electricity lines under the island. These projects are to connect the offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the mainland. But the residents are concerned and fear negative effects on their drinking water supply.

The electricity routes are intended to bring clean wind power to the cities by 2028. In fact, the electricity generated from offshore wind energy could supply up to 1.8 million people. The routes are part of a larger plan that also affects the island of Baltrum, where rehearsal bores for similar projects are to take place. But the price for this energy transition could be high, as the mayor of Langeoog, Heike Horn, makes it clear.

drinking water in danger?

The inhabitants of the island are primarily concerned that the planned routes could run directly under the valuable freshwater lenses. These natural water reserves are not only crucial for drinking water supply, but also as a resource for drinking water treatment in terms of quality and quantity. The Oldenburg-East Frisian Water Association (OOWV) uses these lenses to ensure the water supply to the island, while Baltrum is partially supplied by the mainland.

tennet and amprion have registered the concerns of the residents and refer to a risk analysis that predicts a low influence on the freshwater lenses, provided the planned holes are carried out using the horizontal flushing drilling process. Nevertheless, many people say serious concerns about Langeoog that salt water or drilling sludge penetrate the freshwater lenses and make them inedible. Mayor Onno Brüling from Langeoog emphasizes that the holes should not take place near the lenses.

resistance of the island community

The entire island council has already voted against the previous plans to represent the interests of the residents with a uniform voice. Bärbel Kraus from the Greens also recognizes the dangers and demands additional protective measures to ensure that the drinking water supply is not endangered. The aim is to convince Tennet to continue to move the routes from the freshwater lenses.

In order to bundle the resistance from the population, the island communities and citizens have the opportunity to submit objections and questions about the planned measures by Wednesday. These large construction projects not only have an impact on drinking water supply, but also on tourism and local fishing.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. The importance of freshwater lenses as an essential resource for the islanders is undisputed, and the outcome of this debate could have far -reaching consequences for Langeoog and the surrounding islands. Another goal is to expand the offshore wind energy from currently 15 gigawatts to 20 gigawatts by 2030, a project that underlines the need to include all interests of the residents in the decision-making process.

As Mayor Heike Horn concludes, transparency is essential in the spatial planning procedure "Seetstrassen 2030". The greatest concerns are that inadequate information and planned drilling could have a lasting impact on Langeoog. It is to be hoped that a solution can be found that both drives the energy transition and secures the valuable drinking water resource of the island.

Further information on this topic can be found in the reports of Buten and Binnen , ndr and mopo