Drones are now being used to monitor the sewage channels in Germany’s Blue Community / Blue City of Berlin.
The capital’s (remunicipalised) water utility company, BWB, is flying drones through the city’s sewage channels. The drones search for cracks, intruding roots and leaks. They reveal damage in hard-to-reach corners that sewer workers cannot easily access.
The advantage for the state-owned company, which employs 4,836 people, is that pipes no longer need to be cleaned in advance. Ultimately, the drones will become even smaller and autonomously search for impending accidents.
Last year, BWB invested around 251 million euros in renovating the 19,000-kilometre pipe and sewer network. A total of €1.5 billion was invested in infrastructure, setting a new record. “That’s 41 per cent of turnover and a record figure,” said Franziska Giffey, the Senator for Economic Affairs (SPD). ‘That’s over a million euros every day!’ the politician calculated.
There will be no higher fees until 2027.
But who will pay for it? Fees for Berlin consumers will not be raised again until 2027. In return, the Senate has enforced the price freeze and is foregoing its own revenue (almost 58 million euros in 2024/25). Ultimately, 127 million euros from the water utility’s profits will still flow into the state budget, providing a reliable source of income.
Giffey promises that prices for Berliners will rise ‘moderately’ in two years’ time: “We’re talking about an increase of less than one euro cent, which is nothing exorbitant. It will amount to less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month.’
Old waterworks are back in operation.
Currently, 1,000 litres cost €1.69, and wastewater costs €2.25. Berliners consume an average of 110 litres per day, or 3,000 litres per month, costing around 5 euros. Giffey said, ‘So we are talking about a price that provides drinking water of the highest quality, which is also at the lower end of the national scale.’
To put water extraction on a broader footing, the waterworks that were shut down in the 1990s are to be brought back into operation. This includes the sites at Johannisthal and Jungfernheide. To speed things up in the north, the wells at Jungfernheide will be used and the raw water will be piped to Tegel for treatment.
As the water supply in the capital is secure, there are no plans to impose water-saving restrictions. Giffey said, “You can’t achieve much with coercion. Those who consume more must pay more.’
