Ruhleben sewage treatment plant to be expanded with new cleaning technology

The Ruhleben sewage treatment plant is expanded by two additional plants.

Berliner Wasserbetriebe is expanding the sewage treatment plant in Ruhleben with a new filter and UV system.

The technology will ensure "that even cleaner water can be discharged into the Spree and Havel rivers from 2028, which will reduce algae growth in summer, among other things", announced Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD). "For Berlin's water enthusiasts, this means more swimming fun with even clearer visibility at our numerous river bathing spots from Rupenhorn to Lieper Bucht and Wannsee."

UV system against germs and bacteria

The so-called flake filter is primarily intended to further filter the nutrient phosphorus out of the water, 98 per cent of which has already been removed at this point, according to Wasserbetriebe. The UV system, in turn, is intended to render any germs and bacteria still present in the already purified water harmless. This means that the purified water can now be discharged into the Spree all year round. Previously, in summer, the purified water was channelled past the Havel bathing areas via a 16-kilometre-long clear water pipeline to the Teltow Canal.

Remodelling measures until 2028

According to Giffey, the expansion will cost around 250 million euros. Construction work is already underway and should be completed by 2028. The sewage treatment plant in Ruhleben is the second largest of Berlin's six plants in terms of surface area. The wastewater from around 1.6 million residents is treated here. The wastewater therefore takes one day to be treated there.