In times of Corona, the wastewater from Freising can provide important information - not only about people's changed behavior.
Freising
- "Water is valuable": This knowledge is becoming more and more important for many people.
This was shown by the high level of interest shown by the numerous participants in the event “Walk & Talk - The way water after flushing the toilet”.
The Domberg Akademie and the Agenda21 working group on energy and climate protection had invited to the pumping station in Lerchenfeld and the sewage treatment plant of the city of Freising in Neustift on Sunday.
The plant manager Gabriele Weinberger and her deputy Christian Scholz gave expert guidance.
Johannes Schmuker, former head of the Freising water management office, explained the rain retention measures along the Isar and Moosach during the “conversation” through the Isar floodplains between Lerchenfeld and the sewage treatment plant in Neustift.
The system can hold a maximum of 630 liters per second
The times when friends and acquaintances “took a step back from him” when he talked about his job are long gone, says Christian Scholz. People have long since become aware of the importance of the work of the 30 or so employees at the Freising sewage treatment plant. “I am proud to be able to do something to protect the environment,” the expert revealed to the audience. The pumping station in Lerchenfeld was the starting point for the interesting tour on Sunday afternoon. The sewer network underground in Freising is 155 kilometers long, explained Scholz at the beginning.
Gabriele Weinberger, Operations Manager at the Freising wastewater treatment plant, explained how complex and intensive the cleaning process for the water used is.
According to the specialist, the system can hold a maximum of 630 liters per second.
If more accumulates during heavy rain events, then the water has to be "knocked off".
The tour began at the so-called “rake”, just behind the main pumping station, where the wastewater from the Lerchenfeld district is discharged.
"Coarse" parts would be sorted out here.
In the pandemic, the sewage treatment plant staff was "only at the helm"
As many leftovers as in the past pandemic had never before been disposed of via the sewer, recalls Scholz.
What was also noticed: During the "delivery bottlenecks" for toilet paper, many consumers probably made do with wet wipes.
“We were only rowing,” said the expert.
They worked “day and night” to clean the edges of the pump, to which the wet wipes had stuck.
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Barbara Weinberger (right, center), the manager of the Freising sewage treatment plant, showed the participants through the premises on Parkstrasse.
© Martin
Speaking of pandemic: One participant wanted to know whether the corona virus could be detected in wastewater using PCR tests.
Weinberger said yes.
The Freising wastewater treatment plant even works with a TUM institute with regard to the viral load in wastewater.
Thanks to wastewater monitoring, it is even possible to offer an "early warning system".
Because ten days before the disease breaks out in infected people, the viruses would be excreted.
Many tons of sewage sludge are produced
From the “rake” the tour continued over the aeration basins, which are inhabited by a hungry army of little helpers: bacteria. The microorganisms are primarily responsible for ensuring that the dirty water is treated again within 24 hours so that it can be safely directed into the Isar. As one of the few wastewater treatment plants in Bavaria, the Freising wastewater treatment plant can irradiate the wastewater at the end of the cleaning chain with UV light in the summer months. Germs would be killed efficiently and environmentally friendly in seconds, explained Weinberger. The Isar thank you for it. Because then the water will have bathing quality again.
Many tons of sewage sludge were produced in the treatment of wastewater, according to the specialist.
It contains pollutants such as drug residues, phosphorus and nitrates.
After the new Sewage Sludge Ordinance came into force four years ago, sewage sludge could no longer be applied to the fields as fertilizer, but had to be burned.
Dirty becomes clean water within 24 hours
The thermal utilization is currently taking place in the coal-fired power plant in Anglberg in a sewage sludge incineration plant.
Disposal costs are currently exploding ”.
The cost per ton has almost doubled compared to before.
"Citizens should understand that wastewater disposal is becoming more expensive for them."
Barbara Weinberger described her job as the “most interesting job”.
"For me it is always fascinating how the polluted water becomes clean again within 24 hours."
(Maria Martin)
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