WELTERBE WASSER. Augsburgs historische Wasserwirtschaft

Augsburg's water management system has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. The ¿Augsburg Water Management System¿ encompasses hydraulic engineering and the use of water power, drinking water elevation and monumental fountain art. Almost all of the monuments are located along the network of canals that has been developed over centuries and is around 160 kilometres long in the city area alone, fed by water from the mountain rivers Lech and Wertach, from the small Singold and from spring creeks. Hydraulic engineering ¿ with river inlets, canals, water crossings, weirs, locks and sleepers ¿ provided water power for the water wheels of the crafts and pre-industrial machines. From 1840 onwards, water turbines drove machines in factories via transmissions. Since 1901/02, two hydroelectric power stations, which have been preserved to this day, have been generating electricity. Although all the large cities on the major rivers had canals, Augsburg's electricity-generating hydroelectric power stations only went into operation late because mechanical power transmission was long sufficient due to the abundant supply of water. However, Augsburg's historic water management system is a World Heritage Site primarily because of what was made of difficult conditions: drinking water was lifted into the water towers with machines driven by water wheels ¿ from 1414 with a bucket elevator, later with Archimedes screws and with piston pumps. Three medieval waterworks with a total of five water towers are still preserved. In the industrial age, a towerless waterworks with wind pressure boilers was built: the central drinking water supply for the city began in 1879 with the waterworks at the Hochablass. Three Mannerist monumental fountains from the late Renaissance are monuments to the water that Augsburg celebrated for centuries through architecture, sculpture and painting.