Success story: Industrial heritage Water – Innovation. Progress. Water.

Water and economics have always been inextricably linked. This principle applies particularly to the A³ region. Magnificent water towers and power stations, long river and canal landscapes still characterize the region today. The Augsburg water management system, which has been in existence for over eight centuries, is unique in its technical and cultural diversity.

This is what it's all about:

The Augsburg water management system is a unique example of more than 800 years of urban water management development. It bears witness to the region's pioneering technical achievements and continues to stand for progress and innovation to this day.

Unique ensemble of technology and culture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

More than 2,000 years ago, the city of Augsburg was built between the two rivers Lech and Wertach. Even the ancient Romans appreciated its outstanding location. Where the two rivers meet, water has played a key role in the city's development and the history of the industrial region for centuries. As early as the Middle Ages, people began to channel water from both rivers into the city. Over a long period of time, a sophisticated system of canals and hydropower technologies developed to supply the citizens with both industrial and drinking water. A total of 22 objects, including hydroelectric power stations, drinking water works, fountain art and watercourses from over 2,000 years of city history, document the development of water supply in and around Augsburg to this day. This globally unique, still preserved ensemble has therefore been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2019.

Water as a lifeline

Anyone walking through Augsburg's streets will quickly notice that there is hardly a place where water is not rushing by. A network of canals and streams approximately 77 kilometres long flows through the city like a network of veins. The Hochablass, a large weir on the Lech River, plays an important role in this. From here, the water from the Lech that flows through the city centre is diverted – and has been since 1346. In the Middle Ages, numerous craft businesses with their mills and hammer mills settled along the canals to harness the power of the water. Water wheels, such as the one at Schwalllech, still characterise the city centre today and are a reminder of how water was used to generate energy for Augsburg's craftsmen in the early days.

How Augsburg's water system is making the future better:

Early innovations from the region that are still of great importance to our society today: use of hydropower, drinking water supply and sustainability

Technical innovations and pioneering achievements in drinking water supply

Regional water management gave rise to impressive technological innovations that were crucial to the region's subsequent economic rise. Initially, water wheels and mills were powered by water, but these were later replaced by pumps and turbines in the region's power stations. The waterworks at the Rotes Tor with its three water towers – probably the oldest known waterworks in Central Europe – was admired throughout Europe for its sophisticated pumping system. It was also able to supply higher-lying districts of Augsburg with drinking water from 1416 onwards. The sensation: since the 16th century, Lech water and pure spring water had been flowing into the city separately. At that time, no other municipality had separated drinking water from industrial water. As a result, life in the city was relatively hygienic. After more than four and a half centuries in operation, the plant at the Rotes Tor was replaced by a new waterworks at the Hochablass, another fascinating monument to industrial culture. This was the first drinking water plant in the world that made it possible to supply water without water towers. Today, technology enthusiasts can still marvel at the old flywheels and pumps in the historic waterworks. But the power of the Lech River continues to be harnessed: modern turbines generate green electricity in the basement of the ornate building. Other hydroelectric power plants near Gersthofen, Langweid and Meitingen in the district of Augsburg are still in use today to supply electricity across the A³ region.

Unique and worthy of world heritage status:

A water management system that is unique in the world
Augsburg's trio of fountains – the Augustus Fountain, Mercury Fountain and Hercules Fountain – as well as its collection of hydrotechnical models from the 17th to 19th centuries are unique in the world
Living with water: the region was very early to harness the power of water for crafts and industry

Using the power of water to create an industrial centre

Thanks to numerous turbine-powered power stations, the region rose to become a thriving paper and textile metropolis in the early 19th century. Looms and spinning machines could be powered in the large factory buildings. Later, hydropower became indispensable for generating electricity in textile factories. For example, the power station on the Stadtbach stream had been serving the cotton mill, then the largest spinning mill in Germany, since 1873. Even today, the numerous power stations with their industrial architecture bear witness to the economic history of the region. Those interested can discover the great importance of water for the former ‘German Manchester’ and which industries still benefited from the city canals at the State Textile and Industry Museum in Augsburg (tim).

A precious commodity for the region – yesterday, today and in the future

The element of water uniquely combines nature, technology and economics in A³. The history of the economic region demonstrates how we humans and our society can benefit from the power of water. Over the centuries, the spirit of innovation in the region has led to technical innovations in hydraulic engineering. Even today, the regional energy supply and drinking water production are based on the Augsburg tradition, which is being continued with the help of new technologies. Then as now, water is not only the basis for well-being in the region, but also a valuable resource that must be protected.

picture gallery – The power of water

Further links

Website of the World Heritage Office of the City of Augsburg:

https://wassersystem-augsburg.de/en

Monuments and sights around Augsburg's World Heritage Site:

https://www.augsburg-tourismus.de/en/welcome

German UNESCO Commission on Augsburg's World Heritage Site:

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