Ruhrverband - the best water for people and nature today and in the future

With its efficient river basin management, the Ruhrverband ensures sustainable water supply and wastewater treatment in the Ruhr catchment area. Without the intention of making a profit, the focus is on people and the environment - while at the same time ensuring economic efficiency. This ensures the water supply for 4.6 million people and wastewater treatment for 60 towns and municipalities.

About us

Dams

Reservoirs

Sewage treatment plants

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Length of the Ruhr

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Total length of watercourses

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Inhabitants in the association area

Our river basin

Ruhrquelle
Hennetalsperre
Möhnetalsperre
Hengsteysee
Harkortsee
Baldeneysee
Mülheim
Duisburg
Rhein

Ruhr spring

The Ruhr is one of the six major tributaries that flow into the Rhine within North Rhine-Westphalia. It rises north of Winterberg in the Hochsauerland district at an altitude of 674 metres above sea level in several headwaters, with the ‘Ruhrquelle’ (Ruhr spring) being located on the northern slope of the Ruhrkopf.

Himmelstreppe

As part of the Regionale 2013, the Henne dam was renaturalised and connected to the city centre via the Henne Boulevard. This was followed in 2015 by the opening of the stairway to heaven with 333 steel steps and a viewing platform.

To the Henne dam

Möhnetalsperre

The Möhne Dam, which went into operation in 1913 as the largest dam in Europe, is still a key element in controlling the water flow of the Ruhr today, accounting for over 25 per cent of the total reservoir storage space in the Ruhr catchment area. With its 650 metre long and up to 40 metre high gravity dam made of quarry stone, 134.5 million cubic metres of water can be dammed up.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Denkmal

Lake Hengsteysee is located near Hagen below where the Lenne flows into the Ruhr. Hohensyburg Castle is a popular excursion destination. Other sights include the Vincketurm tower, the war memorial and the Kaiser Wilhelm monument.

Fischaufstieg

The fish ladder at Lake Harkort was designed as a near-natural bypass stream and has a total length of approx. 375 metres with a total of 57 individual basins.

Infopoint Fischliftsystem

Restoring the continuity of watercourses is a key requirement of the European Water Framework Directive. What this has to do with the preservation of biodiversity and the future of our ecological resources and how the continuity of watercourses actually works is explained vividly and interactively at the info point on the fish lift system on the Baldeneysee weir.

Pegel Mülheim

At our water gauges, such as here in Mülheim, the water level, the flow rate or the flow velocity of the Ruhr are measured.

Kläranlage

Our 360-degree panorama of the Duisburg-Kaßlerfeld wastewater treatment plant allows you to experience the plant interactively.

Rheinmündung

After around 219 kilometres, the Ruhr flows into the Rhine. Here it has an average discharge of 80 cubic metres per second. By comparison, the Rhine is 1,233 kilometres long and has an average discharge of over 2,000 cubic metres per second at its mouth!

Your future in the water industry.

We offer you the opportunity to become part of a dedicated team that is committed to the sustainable management of our waters and ensuring a reliable water supply in the region.

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