The claim

Apparently, a newspaper article states that when there is impending social unrest, tranquilizers are poured into the drinking water.

Our conclusion

The statement comes from a newsletter called “Geldbrief” from 2012 from a rather dubious publisher. The claim is apparently based on an urban legend from the '90s that has never been proven.

A photo without any further indication of the source appears to show a newspaper article in the “Welt” about alleged sedatives in drinking water, but upon closer inspection and the search for sources, it turns out that it is an unproven rumor from the newsletter of a rather dubious publisher from 2012 Furthermore, it no longer exists.

The alleged newspaper clipping

We already reported several times about this alleged newspaper clipping, which is now circulating again:

MIMIKAMA
Sedatives in drinking water? Source: Twitter

The apparent newspaper article says:

“During a confidential chat on the sidelines of a large conference, the head of a waterworks in one of the largest German cities carelessly reported behind closed doors that her waterworks had many barrels of sedatives and special chemical additives. These would immediately be dumped into the drinking water if things became “unrest” in this city.”

According to the information provider, who was not named, this should also apply to other major cities in Germany.
Below the article you can see the logo of “Welt Online” and the beginning of a financial article.

The source of the text

Even if the words “Welt Online” can be read in the photo, the text has nothing to do with the newspaper or the online offering of “Welt”. The trail leads to a publisher that no longer exists, which, in addition to a newsletter, also gave advice on how, for example, to get a driver's license from abroad or a doctorate from the USA.

The text was first read online on Gerhard Kurtz's blog (archived HERE ), who cited the "Geldbrief" as the source, for which you could get a discount from a publisher called "Market Letter Corp." - which coincidentally also belonged to Gerhard Kurtz .

However, if you now visit the publisher's website (see HERE ), you will find that it no longer exists and redirects to another page (see HERE , archived HERE ) - which in turn comes from Gerhard Kurtz and on which he also writes, that the publisher (i.e. himself) published the “Geldbrief”.

The source of the claim is the newsletter of the publisher, i.e. himself!

On the successor page, which contains the public descriptions of the publishing products at the time, the “ exclusive reports from the international finance and trick guru Gerhard Kurtz ” (i.e. himself) are advertised, and the introductory text also suggests that it would be very easy, for example to one to get a foreign driver's license, a doctorate from the USA or an interest-free loan from an Islamic state.

But maybe the content of the text is correct after all?

Then let's summarize what information is in the text:

  • An unknown manager of a waterworks
  • The waterworks is located in one of the largest German cities
  • a confidential chat
  • Information behind closed doors
  • at a big conference

Who is the leader? Which waterworks? In which city? Who was listening? What conference was that at? When was that?

In April 2020, when the publisher still existed, we even sent a query to the publisher about this, but it was never answered. Since then, there have only been comments on our old articles that it was an urban legend that was already circulating in the 90s, well before the widespread Internet and social media.

And what does World Online have to do with it?

Nothing. The article visible below actually appeared on the “Welt” online presence March 20, 2012

Conclusion

In the end, it is a statement in a newsletter called “Geldbrief” from 2012 from a rather dubious publisher, which is apparently based on an urban legend from the 90s.

The statements aren't very plausible either: If there are barrels of sedatives in the water supply plants in Germany, why hasn't anyone commented on it yet? Why hasn't anyone noticed these chemicals yet?

So not only is there no evidence for the statements, but the method would also be very ineffective, since not many people only drink tap water, but only use it for brushing their teeth or cooking with it. Therefore, with great effort, at most a small part of the population could be calmed down.


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )