Prague waterworks and sewerage: Toilet water for drinking? In Prague, it has the same quality as from the tap
Before there was one waterworks for the whole city, a number of small local waterworks were established around Prague, for example the Vinohradská water tower. Together with the former Prague waterworks, they replaced the current role of the Podolská waterworks. It was a bizarre situation. Both reservoirs were a hundred meters apart, but each pumped water somewhere else. A bad agreement between the city and Vinohrady was to blame. These local water works supplied both Prague and its suburbs.
The modern Prague water supply system was created on January 1, 1914 with the opening of a new waterworks in Kárané. Adolf Thiem was entrusted with the project. The waterworks represented job opportunities in the region and employed the whole family for a long time. A total of 28 families are known, adjacent members worked in the waterworks for more than fifty years. The construction of the waterworks complex was the first of its kind not only in Bohemia, but also in Central Europe. The waterworks pumped glacial water from a well and supplied all of Prague. After the city and the suburbs merged, other parts of the metropolis began to draw water from the Káran waterworks.
Epidemics and diseases
It’s just that there was no investment in technology from the beginning of the construction, and large losses occurred over time and, therefore, through wear and tear. Water consumption increased to 160 liters per person per day, while only 130 liters were calculated. Water supplies did not work mainly in the outskirts of Prague. “There were typhus epidemics. The water was either completely absent or contaminated. Closed wells had to be dug and reopened in order to have water in the place at all,” says Kryštof Drnek.
Hostivař found herself in a trap, where water was brought by horse-drawn wagons, because she was not naturally in the place at all. Problems also worked filled water intakes. They were calculated according to the amount of rent, not the number of people. Wealthier neighborhoods with large apartments and few people get more water than neighborhoods with small apartments that were full of overnighters.
Double quality
Another waterworks supplying Prague was the Michelská waterworks tower in Vršovice. However, the water did not reach the same quality as that coming from the Káran waterworks. “But the problem was that the water plant could not be replaced. After undergoing intensification and modernization, it functioned as a second source for Prague, supplying Vršovice, part of Nuslí and part of Braník,” describes the historian. As a result, Prague had two water qualities. The Vršovice waterworks operated until 1962.
Modernization
Over time, the Káran water plant ceased to have sufficient capacity. In 1928, the total water consumption exceeded the complete supply. Starting the old waterworks was out of the question, the water barely reached the parameters of domestic water. In the end, it was agreed that water would be pumped from the original water works, but a new modern filtration device would be installed.
Prague water today
Prague is supplied with drinking water from approx. 63% from the Želivka water treatment plant, from approx. 25% from the Káraný water treatment plant and from approx. 12% from the Podolí water treatment plant. The drinking water from the Káraný water treatment plant has the character of underground water, it has a higher hardness than the water from the Želivka and Podolí water treatment plants and is distributed mainly to the northern part of Prague. “The best quality raw water is that of Kárán, as it is located underground. But the resulting product that comes out of the taps is identical for the whole of Prague,” explains Kryštof Drnek.
Water from the three sources is mixed on its way to households. The people of Prague can only get pure Káránská in the north of the city and on the Černý most. According to Kryštof Drenko, Prague’s water is of very high quality, even compared to other large European metropolises. The Prague water supply and sewerage system does operate one water supply for commercial water, but ordinary Prague residents do not even come into contact with it, it is used industrially.
“What flows from our taps today is drinking water from three water sources,” adds Kryštof Drnka. At the same time, he also points out that all the water flowing to Prague residents in their homes is potable. Even including toilet water, which has the same quality as the water that flows in the taps in the city. It is said that there is no waste, there is enough drinking water.
Exhibition in Podolská vodárna. Jan Dařílek
An exhibit at the permanent exhibition in Podolská vodárna
Author: Jan Dařílek