Utilities assume control of emergency well services for all locations. - Emergency well services have been assumed by water utility companies.
In a significant move to ensure the continuous supply of water to Berlin's 3.9 million residents, the Berlin Waterworks has taken over the maintenance and care of the city's emergency wells. The announcement was made following a contract signed between the State of Berlin and the Waterworks, which also includes the responsibility for inventory, maintenance, operation, and repair of the wells.
The emergency wells, numbering approximately 2,100, serve as precaution for disaster and defense cases. Known locally as hand pumps, these wells are crucial in providing an emergency water supply when regular sources are compromised. However, it's important to note that the water from these wells does not meet drinking water quality standards.
The Berlin Waterworks aims to have an overview of the repair needs for all emergency wells by the end of the year. Necessary repairs will be tackled following the assessment of needs. The Waterworks will gradually take care of all 1,190 state wells and 901 federal wells.
Until now, the districts were responsible for maintaining the wells, but this is set to change. The Waterworks will now assess the repair needs of the wells, ensuring that Berliners can supply themselves with water in emergency situations.
State Secretary for the Environment Britta Behrendt stated that this process ensures the supply of Berlin's population. The Berlin Waterworks, with its approximately 4,830 employees, is also responsible for cleaning the wastewater of 4.8 million inhabitants of the metropolitan region.
Disinfection tablets can be used to make water from emergency wells drinkable in an emergency. The Waterworks will ensure that these tablets are readily available and easy to access in case of an emergency.
The hand pumps in the pilot districts of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and Spandau have already been almost completely registered. The Waterworks is not explicitly mentioned to have taken over the maintenance and care of all 1,190 state wells and 901 federal wells, but it is expected that this will be a gradual process.
For precise and up-to-date details on the current status of emergency well maintenance and repair actions in Berlin, it would be best to consult the local Berlin Waterworks authority or municipal public works department directly. Emergency well maintenance in a city like Berlin typically involves regular inspections, rapid response to any detected faults or contamination, and coordinated repair efforts to ensure continuous safe water supply. Waterworks often prioritise urgent repairs and may set up temporary water supplies if major disruptions occur.
The Berlin Waterworks, in its commitment to the community policy, will take over the maintenance, operation, and repair of the city's emergency wells, which number around 2,100, to ensure an uninterrupted supply of water and adhere to the drinking water quality standards in light of potential emergencies. To facilitate this, they plan to address the repair needs of these wells, primarily focusing on the 1,190 state wells and 901 federal wells, and ensure easy access to disinfection tablets for making the water from emergency wells drinkable.
