Rainwater recovery
“Water is an essential good, the Confederation must set the tone”
Benjamin Rodu (Center/VS) asks the Federal Council to support individuals and municipalities who want to install collection systems.
Benjamin Rodé, national advisor (the center/vs): “It is no longer eligible to use drinking water to water your garden and cultures.”
Olivier Maire
- High costs discourage private sector from installing rainwater recovery systems.
- A motion requires the intervention of the Federal Council to support these ecological facilities.
- The subsidies could integrate the buildings program threatened by austerity.
- Water management also concerns Confederation, beyond the municipalities.
“The Federal Council is responsible for taking measures to encourage private sector and municipalities to install equipment allowing the recovery of rainwater.” The request expressed by Benjamin Roduly In the motion he deposited at the end of June in Bern is simple and direct. Six leftist national advisers co -signed the text of the Valais centrist. Interview.
This is your second attempt aimed at encouraging the recovery of rainwater, after a first aborted motion in 2022. Why go back to the charge?
My first motion was classified because it could not be treated in Parliament within two years. As she had aroused interest from elected officials from several parties, I want to put the work back on the profession. In the meantime, the problems of drought and water supply has been accentuated.
What leads you to approach this theme?
It is no longer eligible to use drinking water to water your garden and cultures. Some summers, municipalities must restrict the use of drinking water while others, sometimes neighboring, waste it.
Do you have knowledge that has embarked on a rainwater collection project or that have given up because of the important costs that this implies?
Yes, often deprivals. What is expensive is the installation and civil work due to the need, very often, to bury the tank. A father recently told me that he had given up when renovating his home because of the investment estimated far beyond 10,000 francs.
And you, have you installed such a system at your home?
No, but despite the deterrent cost, I plan to do so during future work.
Confederation is reducing its subsidies, in particular Those of the Buildings Programas part of its austerity plan. What could push her to financially encourage the recovery of rainwater?
The reduction, or even the removal of the Buildings program is nonsense and will be strongly combated in Parliament this fall. In addition, it would be intelligent to integrate measures and aid to encourage communities and private people to recover their rainwater.
What do you think could be these support measures?
This can take the form of support for innovation to advise the best systems at affordable prices, subsidies awarded on very precise criteria and limited in time or even a tax exemption from the investment made.
Isn’t support rather the business of cantons or municipalities, as Leytron, Valais, or Lausanne did?
It is clear that the municipalities are on the front line, as well as the cantons, in water management. It is however the role of the Confederation to set the tone when it comes to providing the supply of essential goods all over the country. And the water, which is a question here of recovering, is one of them.
“Latest news”
Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “24 hours” offers you two meetings a day, not to miss anything of what is happening in your canton, in Switzerland or in the world.
Other newsletters
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
