Future of water gardens in Reden: tourist attraction on the brink of extinction?

Future of water gardens in Reden: tourist attraction on the brink of extinction?

The water gardens in Landsweiler-Reden face an uncertain future. This unique tourist attraction at the Reden adventure destination is partly fed with rainwater and partly with mine water. While the attraction is very popular with visitors, the planned withdrawal of the mining company RAG has a significant impact on the future of the facility. The plan is to allow the mine water to rise up to 320 meters without it reaching the surface. This also applies to the water that flows in the “Moses Gang” area, where the water flows together from left and right in a biblically inspired structure.

Current legal disputes now seem to be a thing of the past: the last lawsuits against the mine water increase were dismissed in April and the judgments are legally binding. The RAG has announced that the water accumulated in old shafts will be treated and piped into the Saar, but the final operating plan for this still needs to be approved by the Oberbergamt.

Challenges with water rise

At the same time, there are still 15 pending objections to the planned water increase, which represents a further uncertainty factor for the water gardens. The Reden Adventure Site Association and the state development company are aware of the critical situation and are looking for solutions to ensure that the water gardens can continue to operate in the future. A concept for this must be available by the end of 2025 in order to ensure the attractiveness and use of the location.

The tourist importance of the water gardens is emphasized by the municipality of Schiffweiler, which is actively committed to preserving the attraction. In addition to the water gardens, the Reden adventure site also includes other offerings such as the Gondwana Park and the FaRK fantasy convention.

Mining and mine water

As Revier Kohl reports, the underground withdrawal at the Reden mine and the Duhamel mine is leading to an increase in mine water. During the first phase of the water rise, everything is kept under control to minimize danger. RAG plans to flood all former mines by 2035 in order to stop pumping operations in Saarland, which would promise annual savings of around 17 million euros. However, exceeding the -320 meter above sea level line could endanger drinking water quality, experts warn.

In addition to the challenges, there are also concerns about the disposal of harmful substances, as RAG was only able to provide proof of disposal for a small part of the problematic stocks, as lawyer Dirk Teßmann notes. These aspects cast a shadow over the company's plans.

Amid all these changes and uncertainties, the municipality's management remains cautious about the future of the water gardens, as plans and procedural steps are currently still being coordinated. It remains to be seen whether and how the Reden adventure destination will develop in the coming years.

Overall, it is clear that the water gardens in Landsweiler-Reden not only have tourist value, but also raise deeper social and environmental issues that urgently need to be resolved in the coming years.