Water crisis in Baruth: Red Bull and Rauch take over Urstromquelle!

Water crisis in Baruth: Red Bull and Rauch take over Urstromquelle!

In the quiet surroundings of Baruth/Mark, about 40 kilometers south of Berlin, things are bubbling behind the scenes of the local drinks industry. Two well-known companies, Red Bull GmbH based in Fuschl am See and the juice manufacturer Rauch from Rankweil, have settled here. Although there is no mention of Red Bull at the production site on the edge of the forest, Rauch bottles the famous energy drink. The city has already given its consent to the conversion of 17 hectares of forest area into commercial building space in the Bernhardsmüh industrial area in order to expand production capacities.

Red Bull and Rauch have taken over the plant of the Brandenburg mineral water manufacturer Urstromquelle, laying the foundation for extensive expansion. The planning, which took more than two years, envisages doubling production capacity. From 2028 onwards, three new filling plants and a logistics center will be built. A US partner is also planning to build a factory for disposable aluminum cans in the immediate vicinity.

Water withdrawal and public concerns

A central aspect of the expansion concerns the extraction of water from the primary power source. The beverage industry in Baruth is allowed to pump up to two million cubic meters of water annually, which corresponds to 92 percent of the approved annual groundwater extraction volume. Red Bull and Rauch have secured the water extraction rights and signed a corresponding contract with the city. Companies are currently using less than half of the approved amount, but there are fears that the expansion will significantly increase water demand.

Mayor Peter Ilk assures that the population's drinking water supply is the top priority and that hydrogeological reports prove the water availability. Nevertheless, there is skepticism: critics, including environmental associations and a citizens' initiative, warn of the dangers of excessive water extraction and doubt whether the available data is current with regard to climate change.

Future prospects

Local politicians have sent a clear signal by approving the planning – around 200 new jobs are to be created. In addition, a sewage treatment plant will be built to filter wastewater containing sugar, which represents a further step towards sustainability. However, the challenge remains to reconcile the interests of industry with the needs of the population and the environment.

The contracts with the municipal water company have a term of 25 years, which could have a significant impact on long-term developments in the region. Pressure on water resources will increase in the coming years, while the concerns of local residents and environmentalists cannot be ignored. The situation in Baruth is an example of the challenges that the water industry faces in times of growing demand and changing climate conditions.