Wildberg in turmoil: Citizens are demanding fair water fees!

Wildberg in turmoil: Citizens are demanding fair water fees!

In Wildberg, there is resistance to the high water and wastewater fees, which strongly burden the citizens. The city is calling for a new petition to introduce lower and more transparent fees. Currently, the drinking water costs with € 4.25/m³ and the wastewater fees with € 3.99/m³ are significantly above the national average in Baden-Württemberg, which in 2024 is € 2.59/m³ for drinking water and € 2.24/m³ for waste water, such as OpenPetition.de reported.

The city and the local council defend the current fees on the grounds that they are due to the mountainous terrain and the high water quality. Critical inquiries from citizens often only receive succinct answers, such as "we have nothing to reproach ourselves" or similar explanations. The significantly higher costs of 65 % above the national average for drinking water and 78 % above the national average for wastewater cause resentment in the population, such as Schwarzwaelder-bote.de reported.

Problem of high fees

The lack of transparency in the cost structure is another point of criticism. The city administration did not adequately answer the questions about the use of additional income and the calculation of the fees. Families who are already burdened by increasing construction costs, expensive daycare fees and higher living costs, as well as seniors whose pensions are heavily claimed by inflation, are affected by the high fees. The petition therefore calls for a significant reduction in fees and a complete disclosure of the cost structure in order to reduce social inequality and give citizens the opportunity to actively participate in the discussion about future fee models.

water is considered an indispensable livelihood and should not be regarded as a luxury good. For this reason, a call for signature against the high and non -transparent fees was started.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien