On 22 November 2024, as part of the Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering lecture, numerous students on the Master's degree program in Environmental Engineering went on an excursion to the water extraction plants in the Mangfall Valley, the source of Munich's drinking water. Did you know that Munich's water supply is unparalleled anywhere in the world? The water gushes out of the mountain slopes in the Mangfall Valley, mostly by gravity. It then travels by gravity to Munich, where the water is usually supplied to consumers untreated (!). Why untreated? Because it is already of the best quality and requires no chemical treatment. Only occasionally is UV disinfection carried out to be on the safe side. For a metropolis with almost 2 million inhabitants, this is quite unique in the world! How does it work? Thanks to the existing geology coupled with the abundant groundwater recharge in the foothills of the Alps. And above all, because the catchment area is well protected. Sustainable forestry and organic farming play a key role here: good forest, good soil, good water. Jochen Vogel, responsible for the water extraction plants at Stadtwerke München, explained all this to us in a clear and lively manner.
But not everyone is so enthusiastic about Munich's water supply. Some local residents are more interested in opening up and developing the area: roads, the establishment of businesses, increasing agricultural yields... Then the historic water rights are sometimes contested by petition. One possible background: without a reform of German federalism, trade tax is often the only option for municipalities to bring money into their sometimes strapped municipal treasuries. And some farmers would probably prefer to engage in intensive farming in the belief that they are missing out on income - despite compensation payments for not using organic fertilizers from Stadtwerke München. This conflict is symbolic of numerous conflicts over water that are being waged energetically in many other places in Germany and elsewhere.
Speaking of energy: on the way to Munich, the water is used to produce electricity using hydropower. Jochen Vogel is beaming again as he explains the technical aspects. And that is catching. The students were able to experience all of this - sugared up by the first snow of the year.
Text: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Aumeier
Organization: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg E. Drewes