Seeberg receives modern water pipes for allotment gardens – finally progress!

Seeberg receives modern water pipes for allotment gardens – finally progress!

The allotment garden colony on Berberitzenweg in Seeberg is facing significant modernization: the old water pipe network is to be replaced by a modern ring water pipe. This was announced by the city of Cologne in a recent announcement. Loud Review online The garden tenants first submitted an application to renew the water supply in 2016, but things didn't really get rolling until 2020, when the original application was approved. Pandemic-related delays meant that implementation took a long time.

The existing water pipe connection in the gardens dates back to the 1970s and is in serious need of renovation as the pipes have become leaky due to age. Problems caused by a lack of separate water meters also lead to communal billing of water consumption, which is anything but ideal for the allotment gardening community. The total costs of the project amount to 474,000 euros, with the club members having to cover their own contribution of 29,000 euros. Even though an application for funding of 294,000 euros from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia was rejected, financing is to be secured through savings on a similar project in Klettenberg. An official start to construction is still pending.

Rules and regulations in allotment gardens

The situation surrounding water and electricity connections in allotment gardens can be very different. Not all allotment garden associations offer these supply options. It is therefore recommended that you find out about the supply situation from the responsible allotment garden association in advance. Loud dein-kleingarten.de The installation of water connections and the use of rainwater are subject to certain regulations. For example, rainwater may only be used as irrigation water.

Draining rainwater outside of your own plot is prohibited, and toilet facilities are usually the responsibility of the allotment garden association. Strict regulations prohibit the use of water toilets with septic tanks and the construction of new wastewater systems in allotments. The use of electric pumps to extract water is also not permitted, adding to the challenges faced by garden tenants.

Ecological significance of allotment gardens

Allotments and allotment gardens not only have an important social function, they also contribute significantly to ecological diversity in urban areas. They are an important part of public greenery, especially in metropolitan areas like Cologne. The City of Leipzig emphasizes that a suitable water supply is essential to ensure the horticultural use of the facilities. If there is a lack of water supply, this directly affects the ability to manage the gardens accordingly.

It is the responsibility of the allotment gardening associations to organize the water supply and decide on the establishment of community water collection points. A “water regulation” could help here to regulate the existing challenges and provide members with clarity regarding water supply.

Overall, it is clear that the renewal of the water pipes in Seeberg is urgently needed and that there are many challenges to be overcome on both the practical and regulatory sides. The allotment tenants are now hoping that the measures will be implemented quickly so that they can soon use their gardens to their full extent again.