Water companies clear “floating gardens”

By Lou Siebert

A sewage system has been floating on the water between the Oberbaum and Elsen bridges for 10 years. It was developed by engineer Ralf Steeg. The nature lover created a lush garden on the site. But there is nothing left of that now.

Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB), the owner and operator of the facility since 2016, had the green area cleared. “They acted like bulldozers, it’s all just gone,” says Steeg of the BZ. The Tagesspiegel previously reported

The engineer had purchased the plants at his own expense and painstakingly cared for them over the years. He always paid for the watering of the plants himself. All the birds have settled on the green platform – a moorhen has bred in the reeds.

But what is a “floating garden” for Steeg is simply a “technical system for mixed water storage” for the water company. The engineer is nevertheless certain: “They shouldn’t have simply cleared away the reeds. The moorhen is on the early warning list for endangered species.” He was also warned about the clearance “with not a single sentence”.

He has been in contact with the water companies for years – both by e-mail and by telephone. But nobody tried to reach him. A corresponding letter from the water company never reached him.

The BWB justify the clearing of the plants on BZ request with fire protection measures. In January there was a fire in the reeds, with “parts of the planting and technical systems being damaged”. According to the contract, they also have the right to “change or remove the planting” at any time.

But why without notice? “I didn’t have a chance to get the plants to safety. All of the plants on this site were in pots. That means you could have easily removed them without damaging them or disposing of them,” says Steeg angrily.