Dam training in Mannheim: Focus on safety for millions!

Dam training in Mannheim: Focus on safety for millions!

Intensive work is currently underway in Mannheim to upgrade the Rhine flood dam (RHWD XXXIX) in order to improve safety against floods. The State Water Authority in the Karlsruhe Regional Council keeps an eye on the planning documents and continually revises them. A new variant is currently being examined, which provides for an overflow-proof sheet pile wall and a dam defense route on the dam crest, as rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de reports.

The foundations for this extensive upgrade are laid by drilling wells that are carried out next to the body of the dam in order to obtain information about the aquifer and the geological conditions. This data is crucial to accurately determine the depth of the sheet pile wall without negatively affecting groundwater flow. The pumping tests, which are scheduled to begin on June 30, 2025, will help determine the permeability of the subsoil and will be included in the model calculations. The tests last up to eight weeks, with groundwater being taken from various wells, explains gds-neckarau.de.

Investigations and tree protection

Excavator mattresses have already been laid out for the planned drilling in order to minimize the pressure on the roots of the surrounding trees during the work. Tree expert Sascha Jillich was hired to evaluate which trees along the dam route could be preserved and which might be at risk. Jillich will make the necessary suggestions and support the implementation of replacement plantings during the construction phase so that the tree population is protected as best as possible.

From March to autumn 2025, pumping tests and earth investigations will be in full swing, although temporary closures of the bridle path may be necessary for a short time. However, it will not be necessary to close the causeway path as a whole. Passers-by can therefore drive over the dam at any time, which offers them the necessary flexibility.

Dam training program in Baden-Württemberg

But what is behind the upgrading of such dams? In Baden-Württemberg there are around 1,000 kilometers of state-owned dams that protect millions of people and their property from floods. Many of these dams are over 70 years old, which affects operational safety. The federal state has therefore launched an extensive renovation program that will extend over the coming years. The aim is to invest around 545 million euros in order to renovate the dams according to priorities. As hochwasser.baden-wuerttemberg.de explains, the geotechnical condition of the dams and the sensitivity of the protected uses play an important role in this prioritization.

Overall, it can be seen that the upgrading of the Rhine flood dam in Mannheim is part of a comprehensive program that aims to sustainably increase flood safety for the affected regions. Citizens should be able to prepare for a safer future.