Schindbach in Sulzbach: It was decided to enlarge the drain after flooding!

Schindbach in Sulzbach: It was decided to enlarge the drain after flooding!

From Monday, December 1st, 2025, the drainage cross section on the Schindbach in Sulzbach will be enlarged. This measure is taking place at the Schindbach culvert, which was significantly damaged during the flood in 2024. The work is expected to take two to three weeks and will result in the complete closure of the field path that runs parallel to it and the cycle path along the railway line. These necessary steps are part of a broader plan to improve flood protection in the region.

The background to the construction project is the increased problem caused by flood damage, which is unsettling residents in Sulzbach. At a recent citizens' meeting attended by Mayor Klaus Habermann, citizens expressed their concerns about the recurring flood events and the slow pace of problem solving. Manfred Schurius, a resident of the Schindbach, explained that he had been waiting for feedback on his inquiries for some time. Roland Neukaufer criticized the long time it took to take measures to improve things.

Flood protection and disaster management

The need for effective flood protection management is becoming increasingly important in view of past extreme flood events. In Sulzbach, the number of residents has grown by 18 since the last citizens' meeting in 2021 to now 519. At the meeting, Mayor Habermann emphasized the challenges associated with financial bottlenecks and mentioned that measures on bridges and a possible elevation of the road could cause high costs.

A disaster prevention lighthouse will also be set up at the fire station to serve as a contact point in the event of power outages. The safety precautions are part of flood risk management, which is necessary to prevent damage caused by floods. However, according to the Federal Environment Agency, complete flood protection cannot be achieved technically or economically, which means that a residual risk always remains [Federal Environment Agency].

Some challenges in the community

The meeting in Sulzbach also brought up other topics. So the dark private road network was claimed; Susann Radtke criticized the poor lighting on the Grenzweg, where a dismantled electricity pylon ensures darkness. Hilde Jakob also said that traffic on a certain street that was too fast would require zebra crossings. However, the mayor pointed out that the police do not consider this solution to be practical.

Citizens also have concerns about property taxes. The new property tax notices are to be sent out at the beginning of next year after the assessment rate has been reduced from 320 to 300 percent. However, contradictions are to be expected, which could result in further adjustments by the city. These various aspects highlight the need to implement efficient community protection measures in order to better manage future flood events [Donaukurier].

Overall, the situation in Sulzbach is an example of the challenges that many communities in Germany face in connection with flood risk management and the necessary preventive measures. The recent flood events have shown not only in Sulzbach but also nationwide how important it is to take appropriate precautions and strengthen existing infrastructure in order to minimize the associated risks [Aichach].