On Monday, 29 June, a Year 7 class had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Wasserwerk Am Staad, one of Stadtwerke Düsseldorf’s water treatment plants. During the visit, the students discovered how water is collected, treated, tested, transformed into safe drinking water and distributed throughout the city.
“Before we arrived at the water treatment plant, we came across some sheep.” Maysoun
“We travelled by tram to visit one of the Stadtwerke water treatment plants. We were welcomed by a retired Stadtwerke employee, who guided us through the visit in German. We learned that Düsseldorf’s water has even been analysed as far away as Madrid. The water is filtered using activated carbon. For safety reasons, we had to wear helmets and closed shoes during the tour.” Sofia I.
“My friend and I learned that there are several wells located 22 metres underground. They collect both Rhine water and groundwater. Inside the wells there are stones and sand. Microorganisms living on the stones already help to clean the water naturally.” Louiza et Emma
“Stadtwerke produces drinking water. We also learned about a pipeline that transported water between the Eifel region and Cologne in the 19th century. What surprised us most was that only about one percent of the water is lost during transport.” Paul, Josephine, Chloé.
The visit gave students a much better understanding of the entire journey of water—from its collection to the moment it flows from our taps—while highlighting the many quality controls and advanced technologies required to provide safe drinking water.
Beyond the scientific knowledge they gained, the experience helped students connect classroom learning with real-life applications, encouraged their curiosity, and raised their awareness of the importance of protecting natural resources. It was a valuable and inspiring educational experience that perfectly illustrates how learning extends far beyond the classroom.
