Emscher, river

Bjerre, H.L., T. Hvitved-Jacobsen, S. Schlegel, and B. Teichgraber (1998), Biological activity of biofilm and sediment in the Emscher river, Germany, Water Sci. Tech., 37(1), 9—16. 

Investigations have been performed to exemplify the DO surface removal rates from biofilms grown on different types of wastewater (Bjerre et al., 1998b). Such investigations may indicate if Equation (5.3) can be considered an appropriate description of the aerobic activity. The wastewater for these studies originates from an open sewer system, the Emscher river, Germany. The results of the experiments are outlined in Table 5.2, and further details are shown in Figures 5.6 and 5.7. 

FIGURE 8.6. The Emscher river catchment area with existing and originally planned biologi-cal/chemical wastewater treatment plants. 

However, at the end of the 1980s, the open sewer concept was no longer able to fulfill new demands in terms of reduced odor nuisance, improved aesthetics and needs for recreational areas in the densely populated area. It was decided to gradually stop the transport of wastewater in open sewers, to decentralize wastewater treatment and to return the Emscher river and its tributaries to as natural a state as possible. A period of 25 years and a total investment of about 4.4 billion USD were planned for the realization of the restructuring program (Stemplewski et al., 1999). 

The river Emscher in the Ruhr district, Germany, is a tributary to the river Rhine (Figure 8.6). Due to heavy industrialization in the area that took place about 100 years ago, the river Emscher and its tributaries were systematically developed as open sewers. When, in the 1950s, it became evident that biological treatment of the wastewater was urgently necessary, it was decided to... 

The river Emscher is to be restructured to become an attractive urban river, a natural part of its surroundings, and with its own unique character. The 50 km... 

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