Dresden fights against floods: This is how the city protects itself from heavy rain!

Dresden fights against floods: This is how the city protects itself from heavy rain!

Am Pieschener Elberadweg in Dresden, directly in front of the popular Ballhaus Watzke, some experts have gathered today to inspect the rain overflow structure. Foreman Joachim Thomas and his colleagues Robby Horn and Alexander Muschner, all from city drainage, are of great importance: flood protection. After the violent rainfall of the past few days, which the city has already stressed, it is of the utmost importance that the infrastructure works optimally and can be relieved in good time to prevent flooding.

In Dresden there are over 100 rain overflow structures that serve to relieve the sewer system in the event of heavy rain and to drive the waste water safely into the Elbe. These structures are designed to prevent the channels from overflowing and are continuously monitored and serviced. The building, which is inspected today, flows into the Neustädter interception channel, which finally leads to the Kaditz sewage treatment plant. The inspection itself lasts almost four hours and connects to the necessary cleaning work, in which branches and other drift material in particular have to be removed. Because this can clog the process and cause damage to the infrastructure.

The consequences of climate change

The city drainage in Dresden sees sensitive changes due to climate change. Extreme weather phenomena such as persistent drought and sudden heavy rain are increasing steadily, which becomes a challenge for the urban infrastructure. Gunda Röstel, commercial manager of the city drainage, emphasizes that despite extensive measures in disaster protection, which was implemented after the devastating flood in 2002, further adjustments are necessary to react to the new climatic conditions. At long drying times, the water in the sewer network flows worse, which causes deposits and a higher need for more frequent sewer cleaning.

In order to counter the increase in flood risk, the city took various measures. This includes the establishment of raincap basin and the control of the pumps and sewer systems in order to be able to control the water masses. The employees are able to set up mobile protective walls against floods within an hour. The city has also extensively renovated the sewer network and equipped with remote -controlled slide that can regulate the process like locks.

Future strategies for a changing Dresden

With regard to the urban challenges of the future, new strategies and concepts will be developed again and again. Projects such as "Samuwa - City as a hydrological system in change" aim to develop large -scale strategies for the city and reduce the costs of underground infrastructure structures. The combination of measures should be designed more attractive in order not only to beautify the cityscape, but also to take into account water management.

In order to minimize the risks due to flooding sustainably, it is important that all decision -makers work closely together and initiate the necessary steps early. When identifying areas of action, attention is also paid to the design of areas that are suitable for infiltration in order to reduce the negative effects of sealing by new buildings.

The previous developments illustrate how crucial it is for Dresden to proactively face the challenges of climate change. With regard to the future, flood protection remains a central topic that affects both the city administration and the citizens: inside. This is the only way to prevent the city from overflowing in the extreme weather conditions and the safety of its residents is guaranteed.