Control system for wastewater – so that our rivers and lakes become cleaner

A control system unique in its dimensions ensures that heavy rainfall is directed to sewage treatment plants with free capacities. This reduces overflows of rainwater into the lakes and rivers and protects them from a great deal of pollution.

Heavy rainfall seldom affects the whole of the city at the same time. It normally occurs locally. In such cases the capacities of the sewer network with all its retention possibilities and the local pumping stations and sewage treatment plants are overloaded, as the pumping station capacity is limited to the level that does not endanger the biological treatment process in the respective connected sewage treatment plants. Dirt containing nutrients and pollutants that is washed from the roads into the sewers in particular with the rain water thus enters the lakes and rivers directly via the rain overflows. The new LISA wastewater control and information system now allows part of the water to be directed to sewage treatment plants with free capacities.

Centrally controlled and networked so that Spree and Havel become cleaner

This networking project unique in its dimensions ensures that all 148 wastewater pumping stations and 52 rainwater tanks of Berliner Wasserbetriebe and a further 106 such installations in the surrounding area operated under contract can be monitored and controlled from a single control centre. In the event of heavy rain, part of the water is directed to sewage treatment plants with free capacities. This avoids around 1.5 million m³ of mixed water overflows per year, and hence around 20% of the average volume to date. Result: LISA save our Berlin lakes and rivers from a great deal of dirt.