Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Steeg
Abstract
Nowadays, the domestic water management services in highly industrialised
countries have to deal with matters that go far beyond the “original” tasks of a few
decades ago. Whereas, in the past, the domestic water utilities were primarily
concerned with the technical aspects of water supply and disposal, they are now
forced to focus on urban development matters, for instance the improvement of thequality of life, the development of tourism and the maintenance of resources.
Residents no longer look upon their communities as purely administrative entities or
economic areas, but rather as their areas of life that have to be developed andmaintained. Towns and cities must present themselves as service providers for theinhabitants. They must attract companies, moneyed newcomers and tourists. This
increases the attention that must be devoted to water management. Clean andecologically sound rivers and lakes have become important areas of activity for thisbranch of science and an elementary precondition for a high quality of life. Yet, until
now, the condition of many waters must be regarded as very unsatisfactory.
One of the principal sources of urban water pollution is the introduction of waste
water from the combined sewage system where domestic waste water is conducted
off together with the rain water that has drained off the streets. During severe
rainstorms the sewage system becomes flooded on account of its limited capacity
resulting in untreated sewage being swept into open waters.
In Germany this manner of pollution accounts for 40% of water contamination. In
Berlin, alone, up to seven million cubic meters of waste water are introduced into theRiver Spree every year.
There are many proven systems to diminish this form of contamination. They include
planning-intensive decentral measures such as roof landscaping and seepage
systems or centralised solutions such as cost-intensive underground rainwatercollecting overflow basins.
The LURITEC System
This is where LURITEC offers a new, cost-effective technology that can be rapidlyimplemented. Collecting containers made of plastic and steel are positioned directlyin front of pipeline outlets that lead into open waters. The technical equipment of“conventional” storage systems (e.g. pumps and computer technology) takes on amodel function that can be combined with the new storage system which is supplied
ex works as a modular kit for rapid and easy installation eliminating elaborate
preparations and prolonged planning.
In addition to waste-water storage, these containers with their surfaces above waterlevel can fulfil numerous other functions. They can be usedas public parks andbiotopes, or for bars, cafés and exhibition pavilions. Moreover, these newly created“islands in the water” can be let or leased and thus help finance the storage system.
Innovative environment protection does not entail any losses, but rather contributes
to the direct addition of value to urban quality: The proper and effective use of urban
areas helps to finance the protection of the waters.

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Now that a team of architects, town planners, creative artists, biologists and water
scientists have confirmed the technical, economic and architectural feasability of thisproject, it is planned to set up a pilot installation alongside Berlin’s River Spree in2007.

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