“Water is a burning issue for people.” An ethnographic analysis of regulated water policy in Frankfurt am Main and its significance for regional usage conflicts

This work centers on the drinking water supply in Frankfurt am Main and the associated conflicts of use. Special significance is given to the regions of Vogelsberg and Hessisches Ried, which also play a crucial role in the water supply of the city of Frankfurt am Main. The local ecological and (hydro-)geological conditions result in a societal conflict and a field of tension, which is further exacerbated by the progressing anthropogenic climate change. The societal relevance becomes increasingly evident through the multiplication of negative impacts on groundwater reserves, drinking water, and thus the core of human survival due to human-made climate change. Consequently, the technically oriented field of water supply inevitably carries societal relevance, which is portrayed in this work through ethnographic interviews with various actors and experts. Knowledge and knowledge discrepancies represent an important and consistent component in the analysis of conflicts, which gradually became the core subject of the research. This highlights how ecological, technical, and societal components are interconnected and mutually dependent in a conflict. It also becomes clear how socio-ecological tensions arise and to what extent the debates are shaped by knowledge. This work brings together opposing perspectives and underscores the inevitable relevance of cultural anthropological research.

We are happy that Luis published his thesis here in the Groundwater Dimensions Series.