Environmental & Water Management

Essen is one of the most important European locations in the field of water and environmental management. The rapid industrialisation of the Ruhr region and the accompanying growth in population were already placing heavy demands on the region’s water and environmental management in the 19th century. Thus the foundation stone was laid for the technical development of innovative technologies in the industry. Nowadays, the technical and economic know-how that has been developed locally for solving complex problems is marketed throughout the world.

It is not only the leading water management associations and large environmental companies that justify Essen’s reputation as Germany’s water and environmental city, there are many small and medium-sized companies, engineering firms, institutions and research facilities that also play a significant role in the industry’s wide-ranging business activities.

With its strong, internationally-experienced companies, such as WTE Wassertechnik GmbH, AHT Group AG and SWE Stadtwerke Essen AG, its many engineering firms and highly-specialised service companies, Essen can offer considerable expertise in all matters relating to water. In addition, the Emschergenossenschaft, a special purpose communal association for the water management of the river Emscher and its tributaries, the Lippeverband and the Ruhrverband, water associations responsible for the Lippe and Ruhr rivers respectively, all have their headquarters in Essen. Thus the supply and waste management services for the third largest conurbation in Europe, the Metropole Ruhr, are centrally controlled from Essen.

In the field of environmental economics in Essen, the main emphasis lies on solving problems in the areas of soil protection, waste and recycling management, the remediation of contaminated sites and water pollution control, as well as the prevention of air pollution and noise control. A further strong pillar in Essen is environmental technology.

Essen is not only the seat of the State Office for Nature, the Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) of North Rhine-Westphalia, water and environmental management in Essen is embedded in a network of well-known companies and institutions, which provide research, development and further education in the relevant disciplines. Expertise and performance capabilities from facilities such as the BEW – Bildungszentrum für die Entsorgungs- und Wasserwirtschaft GmbH, a learning centre for water and environmental management, DMT GmbH and the University of Duisburg-Essen contribute to the quality and success of water and environmental management in Essen.

The numerous research and educational institutes in Essen and the Metropole Ruhr provide fast and simple access to a large, well-qualified workforce for the companies that have established themselves at this location. Essen companies are also assured of efficient, fast access to the results of fundamental and applied research.

A well-functioning network of business relations exists between the large and small companies, the associations, institutions and research and educational institutes.

Moreover, Essen and the companies located here are integrated into various regional and national networks. The ATV-DVWK – Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V., is active in the fields of water management, waste water, waste disposal and soil protection. The core areas of activity of the Wasserwirtschaftsinitiative NRW, the North Rhine-Westphalia water management initiative, are “foreign trade”, “research, development, teaching and the transfer of technology”, “vocational training and professional qualifications”, “performance and competitive capabilities” and “communications and image building”. ZENIT, Zentrum für Innovation und Technik e.V., is a consulting firm for small and medium-sized enterprises that focuses on environmental management, environmental technology, environmental cost calculations and arranging business contacts with a view to joint projects, and is firmly established close by. AVV Altlastensanierungs- und Altlastenaufbereitungsverband NRW, an association for the decontamination and remediation of former waste deposits in North Rhine-Westphalia, advises its members on all matters concerning contaminated sites.

These networks serve not only the setting up of co-operations and an exchange of views, but offer other services such as joint stands at ENTSORGA, ENVITEC and other German and European specialist trade fairs, as organised by the IFAT, for example. Companies in Essen benefit directly from the network of relationships throughout the city and the Metropole Ruhr.

In Essen the leading specialist trade fair for the water and energy business, the E-world energy & water, opens its doors annually. The Essen Conference for water and waste management takes place annually, alternating between Essen and Aachen.

Any company located in Essen finds itself “right in the middle”! The perfect location of the city at the heart of a lively region with numerous active and innovative companies facilitates personal contact with customers and suppliers, enables fast access to existing networks and business relationships and to the resulting synergy effects.