Nature and species protection by Berliner Wasserbetriebe

Admission to Countdown 2010: Corporate goal “Sustainability”

For Berliner Wasserbetriebe, ecological aspects play just as important a role as the economic and social considerations. That means above all the sustainable management of  water resources. Berliner Wasserbetriebe have now underlined this corporate goal with their admission to the international “Countdown 2010” on maintaining biodiversity and habitats.

With the retention of green areas and wetlands, the natural care of our premises, creation of protected areas and refuges for threatened animal species and much, much more, we are making a conscious contribution to nature protection and biodiversity.

Former wastewater farms such as in Karolinenhöhe are maintained and sustained by Berliner Wasserbetriebe and with their wet and dry areas are an attractive example of near-nature sustainment of free areas. With their own micro-climate, the wastewater farms, which are ecologically balanced with treated wastewater, also have a positive influence on the climate in the city.

Water management systems for processing, percolation and excavation – such as in the Spandau Forest – are an effective balancing measure in the Spandau nature conservation areas with Kuhlake, Großer Rohrpfuhl and Teufelsbruch right up to the northern borders of the city. On the Tegeler Fließ, the source activity of dried-up sources can be stabilised and moors and wetlands revived. The numerous drainage ponds created on the premises of the Berliner Wasserwerke create new habitats for plants and animals.

Working with green fingers

Wet and dry lands on the premises of our plant locations are maintained in the surface area in a natural and environmentally compatible manner by being mowed once or twice. Trees and bushes are freed only of the deadwood. Necessary and approved felling of trees and planting of replacement trees is in all cases conducted under expert guidance from the environmental or grasslands authorities and in an environmentally compatible manner.

The near-nature outdoor areas of some company locations, predominantly in the wastewater treatment plant areas and on former wastewater farms fascinate today with their in some cases diverse wild growth.

Protected areas and refuges for threatened animal species

Rare animal and plant species need ecologically intact habitats. There they find the necessary protection and refuge in order to be able to develop undisturbed. The strict limitations on activities in groundwater protection areas, waterworks premises and other installations of Berliner Wasserbetriebe has created refuges for many rare or threatened animal species. Numerous bird and bat species use these areas as breeding and nesting grounds. Whole colonies of the greater mouse-eared bat and brown long-eared bat species, as well as the Natterer’s bat and Daubenton’s bat, are to be found in the waterworks Tegel and Friedrichshagen, together with the kingfisher, beaver, wood lark, smooth-coated otter, crane, warty newt, red-backed shrike, narrow-mouthed whorl snail, red kite, moor frog, black woodpecker, barred warbler, black tern, corn crake, fire-bellied toad, common spadefoot, red-breasted flycatcher, and more.

34 fish species back in Berlin’s lakes and rivers

Fish species in Berlin’s lakes and rivers benefit from the widespread introduction of phosphate elimination in six Berlin wastewater treatment plants. The Tegel and Beelitzhof surface water processing plants have been contributing for decades to an improvement in the water quality of the Havel lakes and have a sustainable positive effect on the fish fauna. Today there is 81% less phosphorus and 98% less ammonia nitrogen in Spree and Havel compared to 1990, and as a result, 34 fish species are to be found again in Berlin’s lakes and rivers, many of which are in growing and healthier populations in particular.

Biotopes for beaver & co.

The settlement of the beaver in Berlin was considered highly improbable just a few years ago, but in the Tegeler See the signs of the beaver are omnipresent. Smooth-coated otters play not only in the Tegeler Fließ, but also in other Berlin lakes and rivers influenced by the integrated water loop such as the Müggelspree. In order to support this positive development, a ramp for the beaver and a fish lock were installed at the Tegel surface water processing plant.

A home for building breeders

The species aid programme for building breeders has led to an increase in the number of bats on the company premises, such as the former sand filter plants of the Tegel and Friedrichshagen waterworks. According to surveys, the winter viewings of the rare greater mouse-eared bat in particular have increased significantly.
On the company premises of the Jungfernheide waterworks, the breeding wall built for kingfishers and the near-nature design of the drainage ponds and woody nature protection zone offers numerous animals a protected habitat. Bird species such as the little grebe, marsh warbler, blackcap, goshawk and grey heron have their territories on the premises.