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Simulazione · Minimal Water · By the river

Witten · Ruhr valley – water from the river and its floodplain

A Ruhr valley as a model: waterworks, pumping station, Helenenberg service reservoir and Bommerholz water tower, plus floodplain, forest and sewage plant, and three controls that move the whole landscape.

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Real are location, terrain and buildings (OpenStreetMap, heights from SRTM and EU-DEM). The pipe network, sizes and demand are invented and simplified; quantities, processes and times are model values. It is not an operations control and not a planning tool. With your data, the model shows your site and your processes.

The Ruhr valley near Witten stands as a model on terrain from OpenStreetMap and elevation data: a waterworks in the valley, a pumping station that lifts the water from 74 m to 163 m into the Helenenberg service reservoir, and from there, by gravity, the town centre, the commercial area and Bommern. Bommerholz, high up at 190 m, depends on a booster station and a water tower; the wastewater runs through the sewer to the sewage plant and, cleaned, back into the Ruhr.

Three controls move the whole landscape: rain, heat and consumption, plus the weather situations normal year, hot summer, drought and heavy rain. In a drought the fields wither, the forest burns and the town runs short of water; in heavy rain the Ruhr rises, the floodplain fills and the sewage plant reaches its limit. You see why rain brings soil, river and harvest back quickly, while a dead forest takes much longer.

Real are location, terrain and buildings. The pipe network, sizes and demand are invented and simplified: quantities, processes and times are model assumptions. The page is for water supply and municipalities, schools and universities, exhibitions, and anyone who wants to understand situations in civil protection.

The path of water

  1. 01

    rain fills soil and groundwater

  2. 02

    the works in the Ruhr valley provide drinking water

  3. 03

    the pumping station lifts it from 74 m to 163 m into the Helenenberg reservoir

  4. 04

    by gravity into the city centre, industrial area and Bommern

  5. 05

    booster and water tower for Bommerholz at about 190 m

  6. 06

    through the sewer to the treatment plant and cleaned back into the Ruhr

Water shapes the land

01

Water shapes the land

Witten · Ruhr valley: In the Ruhr valley a waterworks draws drinking water from the river and floodplain, a pumping station lifts it up the Helenenberg, and from there it flows by gravity into the districts.

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

Cosa viene mostrato Perché Per chi
Ruhr valley waterworks with clear-water tank PerchéShows where the drinking water is made available; treatment itself is simplified. Per chiteaching, exhibition
Pumping station from 74 m to 163 m PerchéShows that water has to go up the hill before it flows into the town. Per chiteaching, water supply
Helenenberg service reservoir PerchéShows how a reservoir evens out fluctuations and gives the town pressure. Per chiteaching, municipalities
Town centre, commercial area and Bommern by gravity PerchéShows which districts are supplied with their own fall. Per chiexhibition, teaching
Bommerholz at 190 m with booster and water tower PerchéShows why a district above the service reservoir needs its own solution. Per chiteaching, water supply
Sewer and sewage plant PerchéShows where the wastewater goes and when the plant overflows in a storm. Per chimunicipalities, civil protection
Three controls and four weather situations PerchéShows connections in the model, not a statement about reality. Per chiteaching, 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

Forest fire – in drought and great heat a glowing front eats through the forest, rain puts it out.

Films from the model

  • Above Witten · Ruhr valley

    A flight across the area: low angles with sky, the Ruhr runs through the valley, water flows from the hill into the town, 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, the forest burns – 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

  • Ruhr valley waterworks

    Provides treated drinking water in the clear-water tank. Treatment itself (infiltration, filters, hygiene) is not simulated – it is a simplified supply with limited capacity.

  • Helenenberg service reservoir

    Storage on the hill: it balances demand and gives the city pressure – water flows by gravity into the districts.

  • Bommerholz water tower

    Small storage high above Bommerholz, filled by the booster pump; it supplies the high district.

  • City centre

    Homes and shops in the valley, 95–125 m. Multi-storey: needs about 30 m of pressure head.

  • Bommern

    Residential district south of the Ruhr, about 100 m – low lying, good pressure.

  • Ruhr valley industrial area

    Large consumer with its own daily profile (shift work). Can be throttled when supply is tight.

  • Bommerholz

    Residential district on the heights, about 190 m – above the reservoir. Supplied only via booster pump and water tower.

  • Treatment plant

    The treatment plant cleans the waste water and returns it to the river. In a storm it overflows.

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. 01rain fills soil and groundwater
  2. 02the works in the Ruhr valley provide drinking water
  3. 03the pumping station lifts it from 74 m to 163 m into the Helenenberg reservoir
  4. 04by gravity into the city centre, industrial area and Bommern
  5. 05booster and water tower for Bommerholz at about 190 m
  6. 06through the sewer to the treatment plant and cleaned back into the Ruhr

Heat and drought

  1. 01no rain and great heat
  2. 02the soil dries out, the river narrows
  3. 03the fields wither first
  4. 04the forest dies and burns, rain puts it out
  5. 05water runs short in the town, the storage empties
  6. 06rain 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

  • Water supply and municipality

    The way from the waterworks via pumping station, service reservoir and booster to the districts can be explained in one picture, also to guests and committees without specialist knowledge.

    Per chiwater supply, municipalities, administration

  • School and university

    Why does Bommerholz at 190 m need a booster and a water tower? Service reservoir, gravity flow and pressure head sit where they act.

    Per chischools, universities, training

  • Playing through drought and heavy rain

    The weather situations from normal year to drought and heavy rain are set with one tap. You see where it gets short first and where the floodplain fills.

    Per chicivil protection, municipalities, education

  • Museum and exhibition

    The Ruhr as the water artery of the Ruhr area: river water from the floodplain and dams in the Sauerland that release water into the Ruhr in summer. The model makes the connection explorable.

    Per chimuseums, exhibitions, visitor centres

The course

07

The course

The course – the Ruhr runs through the valley, water flows from the hill into the town; 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.
  • Forest fire: The dry forest is burning. Fire crews are on their way – but without water there is nothing to fight it with.
  • Tree dieback: The trees are dying. It takes decades for a forest to grow back.
  • 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 valley as a stage

    Terrain and buildings come from OpenStreetMap and elevation data. You show the valley as it lies, not as a diagram.

  • 02

    One water path, step by step

    From rain in the soil back to the Ruhr, the path can be shown station by station. You understand it before you change anything.

  • 03

    Situations without damage

    Drought, 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.

  • Witten · Ruhrtal: Im Ruhrtal gewinnt ein Wasserwerk Trinkwasser aus Fluss und Aue, ein Pumpwerk hebt es auf den Helenenberg, von dort fließt es im Freigefälle in die Viertel.
    Witten · Ruhr valley: In the Ruhr valley a waterworks draws drinking water from the river and floodplain, a pumping station lifts it up the Helenenberg, and from there it flows by gravity into the districts.
  • Witten · Ruhrtal am Abend – tiefe Sonne, lange Schatten, das Wasser spiegelt den Himmel.
    Witten · Ruhr valley in the evening – low sun, long shadows, the water mirrors the sky.
  • Morgens im Ruhrtal bei Witten – Dunst liegt über dem Land, Gelände und Bebauung stammen aus Höhendaten und OpenStreetMap.
    Morning in the Ruhr valley near Witten – haze over the land, terrain and buildings come from elevation data and OpenStreetMap.
  • Der Lauf – die Ruhr zieht durch das Tal, Wasser fließt vom Berg in die Stadt; Wellen und Schaum ziehen in echter Zeit mit der Strömung.
    The course – the Ruhr runs through the valley, water flows from the hill into the town; waves and foam move with the current in real time.
  • Weit über das Land – Wald, Felder und Siedlungen hängen an demselben Wasser.
    Far across the land – forest, fields and settlements hang on the same water.
  • Innenstadt von außen – jedes Haus ein Quader, am Abend warm im Licht.
    City centre from outside – every house a block, warm in the evening light.
  • Dämmerung im Ruhrtal bei Witten – die Häuser werden dunkler, über dem Land liegt der letzte Schein.
    Dusk in the Ruhr valley near Witten – the houses grow darker, the last glow lies over the land.
  • Wald – Laubbäume mit Stamm und Krone, Nadelholz in Beständen; hier beginnt der Kreislauf mit dem Regen, der im Boden bleibt.
    Forest – deciduous trees with trunk and crown, conifers in stands; here the cycle begins with the rain that stays in the soil.
  • Felder und Wiesen – die Reihen wachsen mit der Ernte und welken in der Dürre; der Boden ist ein Schwamm.
    Fields and meadows – the rows grow with the harvest and wither in the drought; the soil is a sponge.
  • Witten · Ruhrtal schräg von oben – der ganze Ausschnitt als Modell aus Quadern, das Netz spielt in seiner Mitte.
    Witten · Ruhr valley from above at an angle – the whole area as a model of blocks, with the network at its centre.
  • Die Quelle – das Wasserwerk an der Ruhr: Es hängt am Fluss und an dem Grundwasser, das der Fluss nachfüllt.
    The source – the waterworks by the Ruhr: it depends on the river and on the groundwater the river refills.
  • Wasserwerk Ruhrtal – Stellt aufbereitetes Trinkwasser im Reinwasserbehälter bereit. Die Aufbereitung selbst (Versickerung, Filter, Hygiene) wird hier nicht simuliert – sie ist eine vereinfachte Einspeisung mit begrenzter Leistung.
    Ruhr valley waterworks – Provides treated drinking water in the clear-water tank. Treatment itself (infiltration, filters, hygiene) is not simulated – it is a simplified supply with limited capacity.
  • Hochbehälter Helenenberg – Speicher auf dem Berg: Er gleicht Bedarfsschwankungen aus und gibt der Stadt Druck – das Wasser fließt von hier im Freigefälle in die Viertel.
    Helenenberg service reservoir – Storage on the hill: it balances demand and gives the city pressure – water flows by gravity into the districts.
  • Leuchtende Rohre – der Weg des Wassers als durchgehende Leitung, die Wellen laufen mit Tempo und Richtung des Durchflusses.
    Glowing pipes – the path of the water as one continuous line, the waves run with the speed and direction of the flow.
  • Innenstadt – Wohnen und Geschäfte im Tal, 95–125 m. Mehrgeschossig: braucht etwa 30 m Druckhöhe.
    City centre – Homes and shops in the valley, 95–125 m. Multi-storey: needs about 30 m of pressure head.
  • Bommern – Wohnviertel südlich der Ruhr, um 100 m – tief gelegen, guter Druck.
    Bommern – Residential district south of the Ruhr, about 100 m – low lying, good pressure.
  • Die Kläranlage reinigt das Abwasser und gibt es dem Fluss zurück. Bei Unwetter läuft sie über.
    The treatment plant cleans the waste water and returns it to the river. In a storm it overflows.
  • Die Stadt von innen – Rohre und Anschlüsse: Breite nach dem Durchfluss, Licht läuft vom Hochbehälter zu den Häusern.
    The city from within – pipes and connections: width by flow, light runs from the reservoir to the houses.
  • Querschnitt – der Boden öffnet sich, Leitungen liegen frei unter den Straßen.
    Cross-section – the ground opens up, pipes lie exposed beneath the streets.
  • Abwasser – Vom Haus durch den Kanal zur Kläranlage.
    Wastewater – From the house through the sewer to the plant.
  • Regenwasser – versiegelte Flächen führen ab: was nicht versickert, läuft über Straßen und Kanäle.
    Rainwater – sealed surfaces drain off: what does not soak away runs over streets and through sewers.
  • Alles auf einen Blick – Trinkwasser und Kanal zusammen: was in die Häuser hineinfließt, läuft unten wieder heraus.
    All at a glance – drinking water and sewer together: what flows into the houses runs out again below.
  • Der Kanal endet an der Kläranlage – im Normaljahr reinigt sie alles, bei Unwetter läuft sie über.
    The sewer ends at the treatment plant – in a normal year it cleans everything, in a storm it overflows.
  • Hitzesommer – wenig Regen, mehr Verdunstung: Der Boden trocknet, die Menschen brauchen mehr, der Speicher der Stadt sinkt.
    Hot summer – little rain, more evaporation: the soil dries out, people need more, the town’s storage sinks.
  • Dürre – die Felder verdorren zuerst: Grün wird zu Stroh, die Reihen welken, die Ernte fällt aus.
    Drought – the fields wither first: green turns to straw, the rows wilt, the harvest fails.
  • Niedrigwasser – der Fluss führt nur noch wenig Wasser, wird schmal und warm; es fehlt Sauerstoff, die Fische sterben.
    Low water – the river carries very little, grows narrow and warm; oxygen runs short and the fish die.
  • Waldbrand – in Dürre und großer Hitze frisst sich eine glühende Front durch den Wald, Regen löscht.
    Forest fire – in drought and great heat a glowing front eats through the forest, rain puts it out.
  • Rauch über dem Land – die Herde tragen dunkle Säulen, vom Feuer durchleuchtet, weit sichtbar.
    Smoke over the land – the fires carry dark columns, lit from within, visible from afar.
  • Was bleibt – Felder und Stadt erholen sich schnell, abgestorbener und verbrannter Wald bleibt lange sichtbar.
    What remains – fields and town recover quickly, dead and burnt forest stays visible for a long time.
  • Starkregen – es wird dunkel, dichter Regen zieht über das Land, die Böden saugen sich voll.
    Heavy rain – it grows dark, dense rain sweeps over the land, the soils soak up all they can.
  • Gewitter – Blitze im Blickfeld, die Wolke leuchtet um den Einschlag von innen, die Decke reißt entlang der Sichtachse auf.
    Thunderstorm – lightning in view, the cloud lights up from within around the strike, the cover tears open along the line of sight.
  • Hochwasser nach Höhenlinien – die Aue und tief liegende Viertel laufen nach und nach voll, mit schmutzigem Schaumrand.
    Flood by contour lines – the floodplain and low-lying districts fill up bit by bit, with a dirty rim of foam.
  • Wasser zwischen den Häusern – wo es zuerst tief liegt, steht es zuerst; die Modellhöhe reicht bis sechs Meter über Mittelwasser.
    Water among the houses – what lies lowest floods first; the model reaches up to six metres above mean water level.
  • Rohrbruch – die Leitung pulsiert rot, Wasser tritt aus; ein Trupp wird gerufen.
    Pipe burst – the line pulses red, water escapes; a crew is called out.
  • Abgesperrt – ein Trupp fährt hin, das Stück steht still, der Speicher trägt die Stadt, bis repariert ist.
    Shut off – a crew drives out, the section stands still, the storage carries the town until the repair is done.
  • Die Viertel beim Namen – über der Karte stehen die Stadtteile, oben Wasser in der Stadt, Speicher und die fünf Folgen.
    The districts by name – above the map stand the quarters, at the top water in the city, storage and the five consequences.
  • Innenstadt und die Nachbarviertel – jeder Name zeigt mit einem Balken, wie gut das Viertel versorgt ist.
    City centre and the neighbouring districts – each name shows with a bar how well the district is supplied.
  • Zeichen in der Karte – wird eine Folge kritisch, steht ihr Zeichen dort, wo es geschieht: Felder verdorren, Wald stirbt, kein Wasser.
    Signs on the map – when a consequence turns critical, its sign stands where it happens: fields wither, forest dies, no water.
  • Hochwasser in Zahlen – Sicherheit und Ernte fallen, das Zeichen am Fluss steht über der Stelle, die zuerst volläuft.
    Flood in figures – safety and harvest fall, the sign by the river stands over the spot that fills first.
  • Kläranlage und Zulauf – am Kanal steht, wie viel gerade ankommt, und ob sie überläuft.
    Treatment plant and inflow – on the sewer it says how much is arriving and whether it overflows.
  • Die ganze Software – oben Wasser in der Stadt und fünf Folgen, rechts das Rad des Kreislaufs, unten vier Wetterlagen und drei Hebel.
    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.
  • Hitzesommer mit einem Tipp – die Hebel fahren sichtbar dorthin, die Kamera folgt der Wirkung, unten erklärt ein Satz, was geschieht.
    Hot summer with one tap – the levers visibly move there, the camera follows the effect, below a sentence explains what is happening.
  • Ein Hebel, sofort sichtbar – Verbrauch auf Verschwendung: Die Stadt braucht mehr, der Speicher sinkt, oben zeigt ein Pfeil die Richtung.
    One lever, visible at once – consumption set to wasteful: the town needs more, the storage sinks, an arrow at the top shows the direction.
  • Das Rad erklärt – Station Fluss angetippt: Der Fluss lebt vom Grundwasser und vom Regen. In der Dürre wird er schmal und warm.
    The wheel explains – station River tapped: The river lives on groundwater and rain. In a drought it becomes narrow and warm.
  • Folgen antippen – Natur: Die Leiste oben erklärt, was das Wasser für Menschen und Natur bedeutet.
    Tap a consequence – Nature: the bar at the top explains what water means for people and nature.
  • Dürre in der Oberfläche – die Folgen färben sich rot, Zeichen stehen in der Karte, der Untertitel sagt, was als Nächstes kommt.
    Drought in the interface – the consequences turn red, signs stand on the map, the subtitle says what comes next.
  • Starkregen in der Oberfläche – Boden und Fluss im Rad steigen, das Zeichen Hochwasser steht am Fluss, Sicherheit fällt.
    Heavy rain in the interface – soil and river on the wheel rise, the flood sign stands by the river, safety falls.
  • Zwölf Wasserlandschaften – Zusammenflüsse, Talsperren und große Seen quer durch Deutschland, jede an ihrem echten Ort.
    Twelve water landscapes – confluences, dams and large lakes across Germany, each in its real place.
  • Die Einführung – vier Karten sagen, worum es geht und wie man bedient.
    The introduction – four cards say what it is about and how to use it.

Your area as a model

Would you like to show your area, your museum or your school like this? Write to us or call. We will send you the password for starting it on request.

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Chiedere informazioni

Minimal Water: Witten · Ruhrtal – Wasser aus dem Fluss und seiner Aue

I dati vanno solo a questo sito e servono unicamente a risponderle.

Basis and limits

Terrain and buildings: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), elevation: Mapzen/Tilezen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, EU-DEM). Facility locations follow OpenStreetMap; pipe network, sizes and demand 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 pipe network, sizes and demand are invented and simplified; quantities, processes and times are model values. It is not an operations control and not a planning tool. With your data, the model shows your sit…