Ecological improvements
to the Berne System
In addition to designing the wastewater sewers and stormwater treatment systems, Hydro-Ingenieure GmbH is also carrying out the design
work for the ecological improvement of the Berne river system. This is made up of the Berne, Borbecker Mühlenbach, Pausmühlenbach,
Sälzerbach and Stoppenberger Bach rivers with a total water course length of some 20 km. The preliminary design has already been completed
for the first 4 km long section while the final design should be completed by the middle of 2008. The preliminary design phase is
currently in progress for the other part sections with a water course length of some 16 km. The order covers not only the dimensioning
of the new cross-sections of the rivers but also the designing of these and of an accompanying footpath and cycle path system in respect
of ecological and landscaping aspects.
The redesigning of the water course is being carried out in accordance with the development objectives as determined and laid down
for the individual sections. These have been developed from the overall concepts with account being taken of the anthropogenic
restrictions such as culverts and bridges as well as the availability of the surrounding land. The objective is to achieve the
highest level of ecological value possible in the basically urban environment. The water level calculations for the 10, 25 and 50 year
stormwater/flooding events as well as the proof of the shear force acting on the river bed in accordance with BWK – leaflet 3
(BWK = German Association for Water Resources, Waste Management and Land Reclamation Engineers) are carried out with the JABRON 6.4 model.
In order to be able to represent wave activity in the water courses as precisely as possible, Q/H relationships are formed for the
hydrological model. For the proof in accordance with BWK - leaflet 3, stormwater retention basins downstream of the stormwater
overflow basins have been proposed as an option permitting delivery of the stormwater to the rivers in a throttled manner.
Should you require further information on this project, then Mr. Dettmar
will be at your disposal. Call 0211/44 99 1-63 or send an e-mail to
