Water rights Treuchtlingen

At home in the region, committed to sustainability

Our contribution to relieving the pressure on deep groundwater

Founded more than 100 years ago in Treuchtlingen as a family brewery, Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen is now one of the modern beverage suppliers in Germany. At its two sites in Treuchtlingen (Bavaria) and Breuna (Hesse), Altmühltaler bottles high-quality mineral water and produces mixed drinks such as fruit juice spritzers and lemonades for the trade.

In order to remain a reliable supplier of mineral water and a strong employer in the Treuchtlingen region for future generations, we have joined a water protection initiative of the Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen district. The aim is to sustainably reduce the use of the "Sandsteineuper" water layer, which is worthy of protection. To this end, water resources in alternative strata are to be explored and tapped, among other things, in order to replace the previous water volumes from the Sandsteineuper as far as possible.

Our contribution is test drilling in an alternative water layer, the iron sandstone. Provided that the water is recognized as mineral water, we could use it in the future to replace our extraction from the Sandsteineuper as far as possible. According to the Ansbach Water Management Office, the iron sandstone is suitable for relieving the pressure on the sandstone keuper. The Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) also does not classify the iron sandstone as a groundwater deposit of water management significance.

For the exploration of the iron sandstone, Altmühltaler was granted permission in February 2022 by the Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen District Office for two test boreholes and their expansion into groundwater measuring points. One of these is on the Heusteige site, the other only a few meters away at the recycling center. The initial results show that there is also high-quality water in the alternative strata. Whether this can actually be recognized as mineral water and in what quantities the water is available will be shown by the further exploration process. Together with the subsequent approval process, the procedure is expected to continue until 2025/2026. We have described the path here summarized here.

Our aim is not to increase our withdrawal volumes through the new well sites. We want to maintain the level of the previously approved volumes in order to be able to meet long-term supply obligations and secure the site in Treuchtlingen in the long term. The amount of water that may be used in the future from the iron sandstone and the sandstone superlattice is decided by the Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen District Office in consultation with the Ansbach Water Management Office, which is responsible for all extraction rights in the region. Both authorities are closely monitoring the exploration process of the Altmühltal mineral wells in the iron sandstone to ensure that the overall use of the water resources in the region is balanced in the long term against new development. We have just as strong and justified an interest in this as any other water user and all citizens.

Information about the procedure, expert opinions and other information can be viewed on the website of the district office.

News about the procedure

Interim status of pumping tests Heusteige & Wertstoffhof

Following the evaluation of the pumping tests at the Heusteige and the Treuchtlingen recycling center, interim results were recently discussed with the Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen District Office and the Ansbach Water Management Office.

To the complete article "

01.09.2023

The way to relieve the sandstone keuper

The exploration of alternative water layers and the regulatory approval process for the use of water consist of many individual steps, which are presented below. The times are based on estimates and are highly dependent on the results of the respective preceding sections. Changes in the course of the process are possible.

February 2022

Request for test boreholes at Heusteige and Treuchtlingen recycling yard to explore alternative water sources to relieve the pressure on the sandstone basin.
Summer 2022

Test borehole 1 at the Heusteige with first pumping tests.
Spring 2023

Test borehole 2 at the Treuchtlingen recycling center with initial pumping tests.
Summer 2023

Final report on test drilling on quantity and quality of water.
Summer 2023

Preparation of long-term pumping tests (3 months) to analyze the effects of a water withdrawal on surrounding water levels. Application for the long-term pumping tests and the necessary well extension at the responsible district office Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen.
End 2023

Start of long-term pumping tests.
Winter 2023 / 2024

Design of the necessary water pipelines from the pumping stations to the production plant.
2024

Discussion of the results from the long-term pumping tests with the District Office and Water Management Office.
2024

Application for future withdrawal rights (withdrawal quantities dependent on consultations with competent authorities and hydrogeologists), at the same time application for recognition of mineral water quality.
In addition, application for construction and operating permits for water pipelines from wells to the production plant.
2025

Start of pipeline construction.
2025 / 2026

Conversion of mineral water extraction from sandstone keuper to iron sandstone after completion of all the above steps.

About the Treuchtlingen site

1898:
Foundation, initially as a brewery

1987:
Bottling of mineral water

Modern production site with
3 filling lines

2018:
Construction of an automated high-bay warehouse

Number of employees:
Around 170 at the Treuchtlingen site

Filling for own brands of ALDI
mineral water (0,5 and 1,5 l)
non-alcoholic soft drinks

Wells and water use in Treuchtlingen at a glance

Operation of four fountains in the city center (two fountains with mineral water quality from the low-lying sandstone dome, two fountains with near-surface water for mixed beverages).

The maximum withdrawal volumes approved by the authorities are 250,000 cubic meters from the deep mineral water wells and 400,000 cubic meters from the shallow wells for mixed beverages.

This makes us one of the smaller consumers of deep groundwater in the region. 100 percent of the water we purchase is used in the production of high-quality foodstuffs.

Interesting facts about our water

Did you know that...

only 4 %
...only four percent of water in private households is used for drinking/cooking? ¹
more than 1/4
...more than a quarter, on the other hand, is flushed down the toilet? ²
only 0.1 %
...sales of mineral water only account for around 0.1 percent of the groundwater and spring water extracted in Germany? ³
less than 0.05
...the production volume of mineral water approved by Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen in Treuchtlingen accounts for less than 0.05 percent of the volume of groundwater and spring water extracted annually in Germany? ⁴
20 times
...the chemical industry in Bavaria consumes around 20 times as much water as is used for beverage production? ⁵
Almost 3 times
... in Bavaria almost three times as much water is used by breweries for beer than is required for mineral water production? ⁶

Commercial water use in Bavaria - who uses how much?

Water is not only the basis of life, but also the basis of work for many commercial applications.
The use of water for mineral water and beverage production accounts for only a fraction of this.

The following chart shows which commercial branches in Bavaria use how much water:

Who extracts how much water from the overlying sandstone keuper?

The overlying sandstone formation is the deep groundwater layer from which Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen has so far drawn the water for its high-quality mineral water. With the maximum approved quantities of 250,000^m3, Altmühltaler is one of the rather small consumers of this water layer.

In particular, the major water suppliers use deep groundwater to supply households and businesses:

Questions and answers

What do the citizens gain from Altmühltaler using the region's water?

With around 170 colleagues in production, logistics, and administration, Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen is one of the strongest and most attractive employers in the region. Trainees in Treuchtlingen benefit from sustainable training by experienced colleagues and thus experience an ideal start to their careers.

This makes Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen an important economic factor for Treuchtlingen and at the same time one of the town's biggest trade tax payers. Even with the new owner, the ALDI Nord group of companies, this will not change. This also means that Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen will continue to be socially involved in the region.

Does alternative extraction from the iron sandstone solve any problem at all? Isn't this also deep groundwater that is worth protecting?

The Ansbach Water Management Office, as the technical authority, makes the following statement: "The water from the overlying sandstone and the iron sandstone are two different groundwater levels that have no influence on each other. Whereas the overburdened sandstone superstructure shows signs of overuse, these are not observed in the iron sandstone. Withdrawal from the iron sandstone as an alternative to the overburdened sandstone keuper would relieve the latter. The Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) also does not classify the iron sandstone as a groundwater deposit of water management significance.

Should the total amount of water withdrawal be increased?

Our aim is not to increase our withdrawal volumes through the new well sites. We would like to maintain the level of the previously approved volumes in order to be able to meet long-term supply obligations and to secure the site in Treuchtlingen in the long term.

Will Altmühltaler acquire the land at the recycling center from the city of Treuchtlingen?

No, the land will remain in municipal ownership. A possible use is to be made possible via a leasehold agreement with the city.

How will the water get from the recycling center to the bottling plant in the future?

The comparatively short distances between the recycling center or Heusteige and the production site in the center of the city are to be covered by pipelines in the future.

Why are you already talking to residents about ways to use land for pipelines when water withdrawal rights are still unresolved?

We are already initiating initial talks with property owners for a possible pipeline route between the well and our production site in the city center.
Even though the final application for water rights cannot be submitted until all the evaluations of the test wells and long-term pumping tests have been completed, these steps have to be taken in parallel. Experience shows that they take a lot of time.
We are aware that only the approving authorities decide on the final water withdrawal. We consciously bear the entrepreneurial risk of the steps now underway so as not to jeopardize the future viability of the Treuchtlingen site.

Will Altmühltaler move bottling out of downtown to the warehouse location (Heusteige)?

We understand that this issue is of particular interest to the citizens of Treuchtlingen. Our wish is to combine extraction and filling on the outskirts of the city in the future. To do this, however, we need planning certainty. That's why our initial focus is on the results of the test drilling and the approval of future water rights.

Why did ALDI take over Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen?

The Altmühltaler Mineralbrunnen Group has been one of ALDI's most important suppliers of mineral water and soft drinks for decades. The future of the two production sites in Treuchtlingen and Breuna was uncertain due to the former owner's intention to sell. With the acquisition, ALDI North wants to maintain production capacities for one of the most important foodstuffs in order to continue offering its customers high-quality mineral water from Germany in the future in the spirit of basic supply.

However, the takeover does not change the operating business in Breuna and Treuchtlingen. The 400 or so colleagues at the sites have been taken on, and the previous managing directors will continue to be responsible for the business.

Will the water from Treuchtlingen now be delivered all over the world as a result of the takeover of ALDI Nord?

The takeover by ALDI Nord does not change anything in the Treuchtlingen operating business. All employees have been taken over in full. The plant in Treuchtlingen remains primarily a regional mineral water supplier. In particular, regional companies of the ALDI SÜD Group are supplied from there. A significant expansion of the delivery area would not make sense for both ecological and economic reasons.

How sustainable and long-term is it to sell mineral water in disposable containers?

We are involved in a raw material cycle with the ALDI companies and a recycling partner that supplies us with PET recyclate for the production of our own PET bottles. These bottles consist of at least 50 percent rPET recyclate. They are produced in a way that conserves resources and are very light while maintaining a high level of stability. This has a positive effect during transport, among other things.

List of sources

^1,^{2 Wilke}, S. - Water use by private households - Federal Environment Agency

^3,^{4 BGR}- Groundwater - The groundwater resources of Germany

^5.6Bavarian State Office for Statistics, 2019.

At home in the region, committed to sustainability

News about the procedure

Interim status of pumping tests Heusteige & Wertstoffhof

The way to relieve the sandstone keuper

February 2022

Summer 2022

Spring 2023

Summer 2023

Summer 2023

End 2023

Winter 2023 / 2024

2024