German wastewater infrastructure public tours

German communities and waterworks are conducting public tours of wastewater and sewer infrastructure to promote environmental awareness and proper usage.

In Leipzig, the Waterworks launched guided tours through underground sewer shafts to educate the public on the damage caused by flushing wet wipes and hygiene products, which leads to blockages and expensive repairs. Other regions have expanded these educational efforts. In Kaufbeuren, tours focused on the capacity of facilities to clean wastewater and generate electricity from sewage gas, while emphasizing the need to avoid disposing of medications or food scraps in drains. In Thalmässing, visits highlighted technological advancements such as new sludge dewatering plants and the centralization of wastewater management to improve resource conservation and reduce costs.

Recent open house events have continued this trend of public engagement. The Kühnhausen plant, celebrating its 50th anniversary, offered demonstrations of sewer cleaning, camera-based channel inspections, and wastewater treatment processes. Officials at the facility noted that it is undergoing extensive modernization of its clarification tanks and pumps, a project slated to continue until 2036. Staff emphasized that wet wipes remain a significant issue because they do not dissolve and can clog machinery. In Merzig, the Entsorgungsverband Saar (EVS) held an open day to demonstrate how drinking water is transformed back into clean water, showcasing a facility that processes at least 13,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily, with volumes exceeding 40,000 cubic meters during rainfall.