Large construction project in Esch: protection against flooding from 2024!

Large construction project in Esch: protection against flooding from 2024!

In Cologne, there is currently a lot of work being done to improve the drainage system. Since September 2023, the districts of Pesch, Esch and Auweiler have been working hard to subject the outdated system to an urgently needed renovation. New construction work is taking place at the old pumping station on Martinusstrasse, and a particular focus is on laying an underground storage sewer. This new channel will replace the existing drainage ditch, which has proven to be extremely deficient, particularly following the devastating floods of 2021.

Again Cologne City Gazette reported, the third construction phase includes a twin pressure pipeline, each with a diameter of 1.20 meters, which carries water directly from the pumping station to the Cologne peripheral canal. This technical progress is primarily intended to reduce the risks that could arise from heavy rain events such as those that caused massive damage in 2021.

Lessons from the flood disaster

In July 2021, Germany experienced one of the worst flood disasters in its history. Over 180 people lost their lives and many more were missing. The storm, caused by the Bernd low pressure area, brought extreme amounts of rain of up to 150 liters per square meter within 24 hours in many regions. Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia were particularly affected.

The flood disaster has clearly demonstrated the need for improved flood protection. Similar events have occurred in the past, but the increase in such extreme weather conditions is obvious. Experts emphasize that the consequences of climate change are crucial for this. The Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights that the frequency and intensity of such weather phenomena could continue to increase in the coming years.

Innovative solutions

In order to be able to counteract such disasters, new technologies are being used in Cologne. The current renovation uses thick-walled plastic pipes that are connected using a special electric welding process without visible seams. This not only enables faster construction, but also increases the durability of the infrastructure.

District Mayor Reinhard Zöllner emphasized the importance of these measures at the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony: “We have the opportunity here to make our city future-proof and to react to the fact that such weather extremes are increasing.” The entire project has a cost of 118 million euros and is scheduled to be completed by 2027. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has already presented a comprehensive concept for flood protection and adaptation to climate change in order to meet the challenges in the coming years.

The work in Cologne is an elementary step towards better infrastructure and shows once again how important it is to react to the climate and adapt to the circumstances. Traffic restrictions are expected in the coming months, especially when construction works reach Orrer Street. But the long-term benefits will undoubtedly outweigh this.