Dryness in the snail shell: the giant renovation that nobody notices

Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn is currently renovating his waterworks for a lot of money. But because most of the work is done in secret, hardly anyone notices it.

Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn - It was only a few years ago that suddenly the request from Unterhaching was on his table, Hans Neumann recalls: whether the Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn waterworks could not also supply the municipality of Unterhaching with drinking water? At that time the conflict between the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office and the municipalities of Neubiberg and Unterhaching over the water was emerging, which the two municipalities have so far received from the Loisach Valley. Unterhaching came across the Höhenkirchner Brunnen in search of alternative sources.

But Höhenkirchen's water master had to cancel the neighboring community. “We couldn't have done that. We are too small for that, ”says Neumann. He was not long in office at the time - and had enough to do to guarantee the future of drinking water for his own community. The 57-year-old approaches this goal every day: The renovation of the waterworks is nearing completion.

Refurbishment has already been completed: the walls of a water storage tank have already been given the resistant plastic cover.

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Two wells

Demanded the renewal: water master Hans Neumann.

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In contrast to Unterhaching and Neubiberg, Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn does not rely on foreign water. The community funds itself from two wells. "The wells are used alternately," explains Neumann, who, together with water attendant Gerhard Lachner and Alois Bachmann, is responsible for ensuring that the citizens of Höhenkirchen and Siegertsbrunn are supplied with what is probably the most valuable resource on earth. "After all, water is still the most important food," says Lachner.

The annual output is around 550,000 cubic meters. The groundwater extracted from the wells is directed into two water reservoirs, which are located on the southern outskirts of the village near the waterworks. 4000 cubic meters of water can be stored there.

The municipality of Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn is currently spending a lot of money to ensure that the constantly growing town is supplied with water. Neumann advised them to do so. On his initiative, both wells were renovated in 2018. According to treasurer Christine Schmidt, the costs for this are around 270,000 euros. In addition, a new line for emergency care to Hohenbrunn was recently set up. The current renovation of the two water reservoirs and the renovation and technical modernization of the waterworks are devouring two and a half million euros.

In April 2019, Neumann and his staff moved into a container right in front of the waterworks. There they do their office work and control the functions of the devices on the computer. "I hope that we can move again this spring at the latest," says Erdmann. After all, the work is well advanced.

Disinfection possible

Powerful: The new emergency generator is already connected.

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The new, more powerful emergency generator has already found its place outside the waterworks building. In the event of a power failure, it can supply not only the factory, but also the pumps in the wells with energy. The space vacated in the waterworks is converted into an office. The new UV system is already in use. It ensures permanent disinfection.

The renovation of the two water reservoirs has not yet been completed. The reinforced concrete bodies lying in the ground, each with a volume of 2000 cubic meters, which with their spiral walls are reminiscent of snail shells, are no longer sealed. That is why the concrete coating is replaced by a resistant plastic coating. To do this, the first, then the other container must be drained.

The renovation of the waterworks is, and Neumann is particularly pleased about it, almost unnoticed. So far there have been no restrictions for citizens. This is also thanks to the emergency supply line to Hohenbrunn, as he reveals: “Until now, we were unable to supply water for a few days during the renovation. We got the water from Hohenbrunn without any problems. "

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Successor hired

The municipality has not only invested in buildings and technology, but also in personnel. Only a few months ago, the trained installer Alois Bachmann was hired. The 21-year-old is to be trained as a water master in the next few years and will later inherit Neumann as soon as he retires.

The man of the future: Alois Bachmann is to succeed water master Hans Neumann when he retires in a few years.

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However, the immense sums that the municipality spends in the renovation and modernization of the water supply are in no way passed on entirely to customers. “This would multiply the water price. That is not reasonable for the citizens, ”says Kämmerin Schmidt. Since October 2014, the price has been EUR 1.54 per cubic meter including VAT. There will be a new adjustment in October at the earliest. By then at the latest, citizens may notice that a lot has happened in the local water supply.

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