Filderwasserversorgung

Filderwasserversorgung is a water supply cooperative in Esslingen that serves ten member communities with drinking water. A main pipeline network of about 24 kilometers transports water from Neckartailfingen to Vaihingen, supplying roughly 134,000 people along the way.

The cooperative was founded in 1904 when eight municipalities joined forces because groundwater in the western region of Esslingen was insufficient. Later, sources from Lake Bodensee were tapped as an additional water supply to meet the growing population's needs.

The water system demonstrates how communities work together to manage a shared resource and ensure daily supply for everyone. This cooperative approach shapes the region's identity as a place where resources are collectively stewarded.

The system works through a combination of local groundwater sources and water from distant lakes, transported through pipelines. Visitors can contact the administration to learn more about the water infrastructure and how it operates.

A distinctive feature is an infiltration pipe system about 1,000 meters long that lies hidden within the Neckar River's gravel bed. This natural filter system draws water from the river and harnesses the ground's natural purifying ability.