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Simulation · Minimal Water · By the river

Hamburg · Alster and Elbe – from cholera to groundwater

A port city in the model: Alster lakes that people dammed, a works at Rothenburgsort, where central supply began in 1848, a water tower on the hill and drinking water that today comes entirely from groundwater.

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Real are location, terrain and buildings (OpenStreetMap, heights from SRTM and EU-DEM). The position of the facilities is based on OpenStreetMap and public information; the pipe network, sizes, demand and operation are invented and simplified. It is not an operations control and not a planning tool. With your data, the model shows your site and your processes.

The Alster lakes are man-made: a mill dam has held the river back since the Middle Ages. Hamburg used to drink unfiltered Elbe water, in the cholera epidemic of 1892 more than 8,500 people died, from 1893 sand filters cleaned the water, and today it comes entirely from groundwater, drawn from 16 waterworks. In the model the works stands at Rothenburgsort, where central supply began in 1848; pumps fill the high tank on the hill, which gives the flat town its pressure.

From the old town to HafenCity on its raised plinths, seven districts hang on it: Altstadt and Neustadt, St. Georg, Rotherbaum, Uhlenhorst, St. Pauli, HafenCity and the Hammerbrook commercial area. Three controls move the whole landscape: rain, heat and consumption. In heat, parks and meadows turn brown, and everyone needs more; in heavy rain the sewers overflow, and the water rises on the Elbe and Alster along the contour lines.

Real are location, terrain and buildings. The pipe network, sizes, demand and operation are invented and simplified; quantities and processes are model assumptions. The page is for schools and universities, exhibitions, municipalities and water supply.

The path of water

  1. 01

    groundwater is raised

  2. 02

    the works at Rothenburgsort take it in

  3. 03

    pumps fill the high tank on the hill

  4. 04

    into the old town, St. Georg, Rotherbaum, Uhlenhorst, St. Pauli, HafenCity and the industry

  5. 05

    the sewer leads out of the area to the treatment plant

Water shapes the land

01

Water shapes the land

Hamburg · Alster and Elbe: The Alster lakes are man-made, behind them lie the Elbe and the port; the city once drank unfiltered Elbe water, today its drinking water comes entirely from groundwater.

The path of water

02

The path of water

Glowing pipes – the path of the water as one continuous line, the waves run with the speed and direction of the flow.

What is shown – why – for whom

What is shown Why For whom
Rothenburgsort waterworks WhyShows the place where central supply with unfiltered Elbe water began in 1848. For whomexhibition, local history
Water tower on the hill WhyShows how high tanks give the flat town pressure. For whomteaching, water supply
Altstadt and Neustadt, St. Georg and Rotherbaum WhyShows densely built districts around the Alster, with very many people by day. For whommunicipalities, teaching
Uhlenhorst and St. Pauli WhyShows districts on the Alster and the Elbe, with canals to the front door. For whomexhibition, local history
HafenCity on raised plinths WhyShows how a new district on old harbour islands is built against storm surges. For whomcivil protection, universities
Hammerbrook commercial area between canals WhyShows a large consumer between watercourses. For whomteaching, water supply
Three controls and weather situations WhyShows connections in the model, not a statement about reality. For whomteaching, education
The city from within

03

The city from within

Wastewater – From the house through the sewer to the plant.

When things get tight

04

When things get tight

Heat over the city – green spaces turn brown, much evaporates, and everyone needs more water.

Films from the model

  • Above Hamburg · Alster and Elbe

    A flight across the area: low angles with sky, the Alster in the middle of the city, behind it the Elbe and the port, then over the town to the long shot – with the sound of the landscape.

  • The path of water

    From the source via the works and the storage into the town, through the sewer and back into the river: station by station, the pipes glowing.

  • The city opens up

    Beneath the streets: first the pipes, then the open cross-section, wastewater, rainwater in heavy rain, greywater – and everything together.

  • A water year

    A normal year, then heat and drought: fields wither, the river narrows – then heavy rain, thunderstorm and flood. The landscape answers in real time.

  • Pipe burst and flood

    First a main bursts: the spot pulses red, a crew drives out, the storage carries the town. Then heavy rain: the water rises by elevation into floodplain and districts.

  • Using the software

    With the full interface: tap weather situations, pull levers, look at stations on the wheel and consequences – every effect shows at once on the map.

Facilities and landscape in the model

  • Rothenburgsort waterworks

    Hamburg's central water supply began here in 1848 – with unfiltered Elbe water. Today all of Hamburg's drinking water comes from groundwater, drawn by 16 waterworks.

  • Water tower

    A water tower on the hill gave the flat city pressure; here it stands for the high storage tanks.

  • Old town and New town

    Town hall, offices, shops – very many people by day.

  • St. Georg

    Dense residential quarter on the Outer Alster.

  • St. Pauli

    Quarter above the port, close to the Elbe and the Landungsbrücken.

  • Rotherbaum

    Villas and the university on the west bank of the Alster.

  • Uhlenhorst

    Living on the east bank of the Alster, canals at the doorstep.

  • Hammerbrook industry

    Offices and businesses between canals.

  • HafenCity

    New quarter on old port islands – built on raised plinths against storm floods.

Thunderstorm

05

Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm – lightning in view, the cloud lights up from within around the strike, the cover tears open along the line of sight.

Flood by contour lines

06

Flood by contour lines

Flood by contour lines – the floodplain and low-lying districts fill up bit by bit, with a dirty rim of foam.

Processes in the model

The path of water

  1. 01groundwater is raised
  2. 02the works at Rothenburgsort take it in
  3. 03pumps fill the high tank on the hill
  4. 04into the old town, St. Georg, Rotherbaum, Uhlenhorst, St. Pauli, HafenCity and the industry
  5. 05the sewer leads out of the area to the treatment plant

Heat and drought

  1. 01no rain and great heat
  2. 02the soil dries out, the river narrows
  3. 03the fields wither first
  4. 04water runs short in the town, the storage empties
  5. 05rain brings soil, river and harvest back quickly; dead forest takes far longer

Heavy rain and flood

  1. 01the soil soaks up all it can
  2. 02what it cannot hold rushes into streams and the river
  3. 03the floodplain and low-lying districts fill by contour line
  4. 04sewers and treatment plant reach their limit
  5. 05after the rain the water falls again

Pipe burst

  1. 01a pipe bursts, water escapes
  2. 02a crew drives out from the depot
  3. 03the section is shut off
  4. 04the storage carries the town
  5. 05after the repair the pipe goes back into service

What the model can be used for

  • From cholera to groundwater

    Unfiltered Elbe water, cholera in 1892, sand filters from 1893, groundwater today: the model ties the history of water supply to the place where it began.

    For whomschools, universities, exhibitions

  • Water supply in a flat town

    Without a slope, pressure comes from pumps and a high tank. You see how the tower on the hill holds the network pressure and where the water flows.

    For whomwater supply, universities, training

  • Playing through heat and heavy rain

    In heat parks turn brown and everyone needs more water; in heavy rain the sewers overflow. You see what gets tight first.

    For whomcivil protection, municipalities, education

  • Museum and exhibition

    Lakes that people dammed, and districts on raised plinths against storm surges: the model shows how Hamburg lives with water.

    For whommuseums, exhibitions, local history

The course

07

The course

The course – the Alster in the middle of the city, behind it the Elbe and the port; waves and foam move with the current in real time.

The whole software

08

The whole software

Hot summer with one tap – the levers visibly move there, the camera follows the effect, below a sentence explains what is happening.

What you can change

Controls

  • Rain: From drought to storm: rain fills soil, groundwater and river; little rain lets everything dry out, a lot of it lets it overflow.
  • Heat: Up to four degrees more: more evaporates from lakes, fields and trees, and everyone needs more water.
  • Consumption: From frugal to wasteful: wasteful speeds up the shortage, frugal delays it.
  • Weather situations: Normal year, Hot summer, Drought, Heavy rain: One tap sets all three levers, they visibly move there, and the view goes to where the effect shows.

Disruptions

  • Water shortage: Water is running short in town: the first homes are without water – people are moving away.
  • Failed harvest: The fields are withering – the harvest fails, food becomes scarce and expensive.
  • Fish die-off: The river is shallow and warm, oxygen is running out – the fish are dying.
  • Flood: Flood! The river bursts its banks, the sewers overflow – untreated water flows into the river.
  • Health: Without enough clean water, health suffers: heat, poor hygiene, disease. Ambulances are on their way.
  • Pipe burst: Pipe bursts hit lines, never a single building; the storage carries the town until the crew has repaired the section.
  • The extreme: Everything is parched: no water, no harvest, no trees, no animals. Life is no longer possible here.

What the model brings

  • 01

    The real city as a stage

    Alster, Elbe, canals and districts stand on terrain from OpenStreetMap and elevation data. You show Hamburg as it lies, not as a diagram.

  • 02

    From groundwater into the districts

    Abstraction, works, pumps, water tower and districts can be shown one by one. You understand the path before you change anything.

  • 03

    Situations without damage

    Heat, heavy rain, pipe burst: you see where it gets tight first, and set it back. A pipe burst hits a pipe, never a single building.

  • 04

    In the browser, with one tap

    The model runs in the browser. One tap sets rain, heat and consumption together to a weather situation.

  • Hamburg · Alster and Elbe: The Alster lakes are man-made, behind them lie the Elbe and the port; the city once drank unfiltered Elbe water, today its drinking water comes entirely from groundwater.
    Hamburg · Alster and Elbe: The Alster lakes are man-made, behind them lie the Elbe and the port; the city once drank unfiltered Elbe water, today its drinking water comes entirely from groundwater.
  • Hamburg · Alster and Elbe in the evening – low sun, long shadows, the water mirrors the sky.
    Hamburg · Alster and Elbe in the evening – low sun, long shadows, the water mirrors the sky.
  • Morning between the Alster and the Elbe – haze over the land, terrain and buildings come from elevation data and OpenStreetMap.
    Morning between the Alster and the Elbe – haze over the land, terrain and buildings come from elevation data and OpenStreetMap.
  • The course – the Alster in the middle of the city, behind it the Elbe and the port; waves and foam move with the current in real time.
    The course – the Alster in the middle of the city, behind it the Elbe and the port; waves and foam move with the current in real time.
  • Far across the land – forest, fields and settlements hang on the same water.
    Far across the land – forest, fields and settlements hang on the same water.
  • The Alster – the lakes are man-made: a mill dam has held back the river since the Middle Ages.
    The Alster – the lakes are man-made: a mill dam has held back the river since the Middle Ages.
  • Old town and New town from outside – every house a block, warm in the evening light.
    Old town and New town from outside – every house a block, warm in the evening light.
  • Dusk between the Alster and the Elbe – the houses grow darker, the last glow lies over the land.
    Dusk between the Alster and the Elbe – the houses grow darker, the last glow lies over the land.
  • Fields and meadows – the rows grow with the harvest and wither in the drought; the soil is a sponge.
    Fields and meadows – the rows grow with the harvest and wither in the drought; the soil is a sponge.
  • Hamburg · Alster and Elbe from above at an angle – the whole area as a model of blocks, with the network at its centre.
    Hamburg · Alster and Elbe from above at an angle – the whole area as a model of blocks, with the network at its centre.
  • The source – wells raise groundwater; when it sinks, less reaches the works.
    The source – wells raise groundwater; when it sinks, less reaches the works.
  • Rothenburgsort waterworks – Hamburg's central water supply began here in 1848 – with unfiltered Elbe water. Today all of Hamburg's drinking water comes from groundwater, drawn by 16 waterworks.
    Rothenburgsort waterworks – Hamburg's central water supply began here in 1848 – with unfiltered Elbe water. Today all of Hamburg's drinking water comes from groundwater, drawn by 16 waterworks.
  • Water tower – A water tower on the hill gave the flat city pressure; here it stands for the high storage tanks.
    Water tower – A water tower on the hill gave the flat city pressure; here it stands for the high storage tanks.
  • Glowing pipes – the path of the water as one continuous line, the waves run with the speed and direction of the flow.
    Glowing pipes – the path of the water as one continuous line, the waves run with the speed and direction of the flow.
  • Old town and New town – Town hall, offices, shops – very many people by day.
    Old town and New town – Town hall, offices, shops – very many people by day.
  • St. Georg – Dense residential quarter on the Outer Alster.
    St. Georg – Dense residential quarter on the Outer Alster.
  • Back in the river – what has been cleaned flows back in; downstream the cycle starts again.
    Back in the river – what has been cleaned flows back in; downstream the cycle starts again.
  • The city from within – pipes and connections: width by flow, light runs from the reservoir to the houses.
    The city from within – pipes and connections: width by flow, light runs from the reservoir to the houses.
  • Cross-section – the ground opens up, pipes lie exposed beneath the streets.
    Cross-section – the ground opens up, pipes lie exposed beneath the streets.
  • Wastewater – From the house through the sewer to the plant.
    Wastewater – From the house through the sewer to the plant.
  • Rainwater – sealed surfaces drain off: what does not soak away runs over streets and through sewers.
    Rainwater – sealed surfaces drain off: what does not soak away runs over streets and through sewers.
  • All at a glance – drinking water and sewer together: what flows into the houses runs out again below.
    All at a glance – drinking water and sewer together: what flows into the houses runs out again below.
  • Hot summer – little rain, more evaporation: the soil dries out, people need more, the town’s storage sinks.
    Hot summer – little rain, more evaporation: the soil dries out, people need more, the town’s storage sinks.
  • Drought – the fields wither first: green turns to straw, the rows wilt, the harvest fails.
    Drought – the fields wither first: green turns to straw, the rows wilt, the harvest fails.
  • Low water – the river carries very little, grows narrow and warm; oxygen runs short and the fish die.
    Low water – the river carries very little, grows narrow and warm; oxygen runs short and the fish die.
  • Heat over the city – green spaces turn brown, much evaporates, and everyone needs more water.
    Heat over the city – green spaces turn brown, much evaporates, and everyone needs more water.
  • What remains – fields and town recover quickly, dead and burnt forest stays visible for a long time.
    What remains – fields and town recover quickly, dead and burnt forest stays visible for a long time.
  • Heavy rain – it grows dark, dense rain sweeps over the land, the soils soak up all they can.
    Heavy rain – it grows dark, dense rain sweeps over the land, the soils soak up all they can.
  • Thunderstorm – lightning in view, the cloud lights up from within around the strike, the cover tears open along the line of sight.
    Thunderstorm – lightning in view, the cloud lights up from within around the strike, the cover tears open along the line of sight.
  • Flood by contour lines – the floodplain and low-lying districts fill up bit by bit, with a dirty rim of foam.
    Flood by contour lines – the floodplain and low-lying districts fill up bit by bit, with a dirty rim of foam.
  • Pipe burst – the line pulses red, water escapes; a crew is called out.
    Pipe burst – the line pulses red, water escapes; a crew is called out.
  • Shut off – a crew drives out, the section stands still, the storage carries the town until the repair is done.
    Shut off – a crew drives out, the section stands still, the storage carries the town until the repair is done.
  • The districts by name – above the map stand the quarters, at the top water in the city, storage and the five consequences.
    The districts by name – above the map stand the quarters, at the top water in the city, storage and the five consequences.
  • Old town and New town and the neighbouring districts – each name shows with a bar how well the district is supplied.
    Old town and New town and the neighbouring districts – each name shows with a bar how well the district is supplied.
  • Signs on the map – when a consequence turns critical, its sign stands where it happens: fields wither, forest dies, no water.
    Signs on the map – when a consequence turns critical, its sign stands where it happens: fields wither, forest dies, no water.
  • Flood in figures – safety and harvest fall, the sign by the river stands over the spot that fills first.
    Flood in figures – safety and harvest fall, the sign by the river stands over the spot that fills first.
  • The whole software – at the top water in the city and five consequences, on the right the wheel of the cycle, below four weather situations and three levers.
    The whole software – at the top water in the city and five consequences, on the right the wheel of the cycle, below four weather situations and three levers.
  • Hot summer with one tap – the levers visibly move there, the camera follows the effect, below a sentence explains what is happening.
    Hot summer with one tap – the levers visibly move there, the camera follows the effect, below a sentence explains what is happening.
  • One lever, visible at once – consumption set to wasteful: the town needs more, the storage sinks, an arrow at the top shows the direction.
    One lever, visible at once – consumption set to wasteful: the town needs more, the storage sinks, an arrow at the top shows the direction.
  • The wheel explains – station River tapped: The river lives on groundwater and rain. In a drought it becomes narrow and warm.
    The wheel explains – station River tapped: The river lives on groundwater and rain. In a drought it becomes narrow and warm.
  • Tap a consequence – Nature: the bar at the top explains what water means for people and nature.
    Tap a consequence – Nature: the bar at the top explains what water means for people and nature.
  • Drought in the interface – the consequences turn red, signs stand on the map, the subtitle says what comes next.
    Drought in the interface – the consequences turn red, signs stand on the map, the subtitle says what comes next.
  • Heavy rain in the interface – soil and river on the wheel rise, the flood sign stands by the river, safety falls.
    Heavy rain in the interface – soil and river on the wheel rise, the flood sign stands by the river, safety falls.
  • Twelve water landscapes – confluences, dams and large lakes across Germany, each in its real place.
    Twelve water landscapes – confluences, dams and large lakes across Germany, each in its real place.
  • The introduction – four cards say what it is about and how to use it.
    The introduction – four cards say what it is about and how to use it.

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Minimal Water: Hamburg · Alster und Elbe – von der Cholera zum Grundwasser

What you enter goes to this site alone and serves only to answer you.

Basis and limits

Terrain and buildings: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), elevation: Mapzen/Tilezen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, EU-DEM). Facility locations follow OpenStreetMap and public utility information; pipe network, sizes, demand and operation are invented and simplified. Simplified educational model – not a real control system and not a planning tool.

Public sources the model is based on:

  • Terrain and buildings: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
  • Elevation: Mapzen/Tilezen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, EU-DEM)

More areas in the model

← Minimal Water

Real are location, terrain and buildings (OpenStreetMap, heights from SRTM and EU-DEM). The position of the facilities is based on OpenStreetMap and public information; the pipe network, sizes, demand and operation are invented and simplified. It is not an operations control and not a planning tool…