Renaturation of the Emscher river, Germany
Changing the face of Europe's largest industrial area
Through the creation of the world’s most advanced sewage system, in the Ruhr region, AFRY has helped give millions of people their river back.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Emscher river was straightened, dammed, and used as an aboveground wastewater stream. Since 1992, the Emscher Cooperative has been rebuilding the system, allowing the river to return to its natural course.
This includes the development of a central wastewater sewage treatment system in the Ruhr region, the construction of underground wastewater conduits, and the restoration of the Emscher and its tributaries.
AFRY has been supporting the project since 2006, from planning to implementation, giving over two million people in the region their river back.
Client: Emschergenossenschaft
Object: The Emscher river
Period: 2006-2019
Our role: comprehensive provider of advisory, technical and engineering services
