Water supplier finalizes contract draft for Tesla’s Giga Berlin

Water consumption at Giga Berlin has been a contentious issue for Tesla, with local environmental activists staging protests around the factory. However, it seems a resolution is on the horizon, as the Strauberg-Erkner Water Association (WSE) has produced a draft of the water contract for the EV plant.

The WSE is a German regional water supplier and wastewater services provider. It operates in 16 municipalities and has been in the spotlight recently due to its protracted negotiations with Tesla’s Giga Berlin.

The contract terms have not yet been publicized, but reports say they stipulate a lower water supply for Tesla while introducing new rules for handling wastewater from the facility. WSE will forward the draft to Tesla for review.

The association chairman and mayor of Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf, Thomas Krieger, hopes Tesla will respond positively before Christmas.  However, the two parties might be forced to endure more rounds of deliberations if the EV maker requests some adjustments, which is likely, as it has complained of not being involved in or informed of the final changes made to the draft.

Thanks to its efficient wastewater treatment facility, Tesla has significantly reduced its water consumption. However, the downside is that the factory’s effluent is too concentrated to dispose of through WSE’s network.