Tesla in Grünheide: New water contract ensures heated debates!

Tesla in Grünheide: New water contract ensures heated debates!

Grünheide, Deutschland - Tesla is enriched by an important chapter in its Grünheider history: The electric car maker has signed a new water contract for his factory. After intensive and quite lengthy negotiations with the Wasserverband Strausberg-Kner (WSE), an agreement was now made. This contract was approved by the association meeting on June 12, 2025 and provides for some exciting changes.

The new contract, about the Tageschau.de , includes higher limit values ​​for the sewage load and a reduction in the amount of drinking water supply 400,000 cubic meters. Before that, a maximum amount of 1.8 million cubic meters was determined, which now dropped to 1.4 million cubic meters per year. This is made possible by the return flow of almost 400,000 cubic meters of water that Tesla previously used.

a change in wastewater

One of the greatest changes concerns the type of wastewater. Tesla no longer produces industrial water anymore, but there is only usual household sanitary samples left. This means that the quality of the waste water has changed seriously towards a less questionable form. Tesla even states that up to 100 % of this waste water in the factory, which speaks for the environment and resource conservation.

However, the new agreements also increase the limit values: the permissible maximum value for "total nitrogen" in the wastewater is doubled and is now to be 100 mg/l. The limit for biological oxygen also increases from 300 mg/l to 450 mg/l. Tesla emphasizes the compliance with all regulations and that these values ​​are within the framework of the permissible limits in their association area, such as noted.

But not everyone is happy with this agreement. Activists have already expressed their concerns and demand that the municipal parliaments are more intensively involved in advice on such contracts. The water association had previously threatened with a disposal stop because Tesla continuously exceeded the wastewater limit values. This led to tensions between the company and the association leader André Bähler, such as Tagesschau.de

Another topic that is not neglected is the general shortage of water. According to the UNESCO, water consumption could increase by 20-30 % by 2050, which inspires the entire industry to deal with water more efficiently. Techniques for recycling and saving water are already established in many areas, and the situation in Brandenburg makes it clear that sustainable solutions are required.

an outlook on the future

The new developments in Grünheide are not only important for Tesla, but also for the entire region. The efficiency of water consumption in industry could produce future models for other companies. The factory location has established itself as a production facility for electric cars since March 2022 and is currently fighting with falling registration figures in Germany. In May 2025, only 1,200 new Teslas were registered, which means a decline of over a third compared to the previous year.

Overall, it shows that Tesla wants to take responsibility through the new water contract in Grünheide and react to current challenges. The company has attested a good hand for the future - now it remains to be seen how these agreements will prove in practice in the long term.