Potsdam
Leipziger Str., 14473 Potsdam, Deutschland
EWP Waterworks Leipziger Straße | Drinking Water & History
The waterworks Leipziger Straße is much more than a technical operation point on the edge of Potsdam's city center: it is a piece of municipal city history, a central building block of drinking water supply, and a location where modern treatment technology, long usage tradition, and educational offerings for schools come together. Officially, EWP refers to the site as one of its five waterworks; the site overview has classified it since 1900, with an average extraction capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day, closed treatment with quartz gravel, and deacidification. At the same time, recent public relations work shows that the site is also open for tours and special action days. Those who want to understand the site learn not only about raw water, filters, pumps, and protection areas but also about how a growing city secures its supply in the long term. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Particularly exciting about the waterworks Leipziger Straße is the balancing act between everyday life and exception: In normal operation, it reliably supplies drinking water for Potsdam and the surrounding area, while special formats such as school tours or an open house day make the otherwise technical site accessible to visitors. This makes Leipziger Straße a location that is primarily searched in SEO contexts for history, drinking water, capacity, tours, access, and parking. These topics also shape the following sections. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
History of the Waterworks Leipziger Straße since 1900
The history of the site can only be properly placed in the larger context of Potsdam's drinking water supply. The official chronicle of EWP begins with the first waterworks in Bertinistraße in 1876 and describes how Potsdam gradually built a modern industrial water supply in the following decades. The second waterworks in Leipziger Straße went into operation in 1900 and supplemented the supply of the growing city. The historical documentation also makes it clear that the plant supplied the southern city areas in the first decades and soon reached its limits as Potsdam continued to grow and the demand steadily increased. This development is typical for a city where water infrastructure is not only a technical detail but a prerequisite for urban development, health, and quality of life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/geschichte/))
Particularly formative was the technical development after the Second World War. The EWP history documents that the waterworks Leipziger Straße was expanded in 1952 and supplemented with two-stage rapid filters so that additional districts could be reliably supplied. In the 1990s, a fundamental renovation followed: filter system, control, machine house, clean water tank, and plant outlet line were renewed one after the other. This shows that the site was not preserved as a rigid monument but was repeatedly adapted to new requirements. Additionally, the recent security provided by the newly designated drinking water protection area in 2014, according to EWP, makes an important contribution to the long-term security of supply. In 2025, the site came back into the public eye with its 125th anniversary and an open house day. Thus, Leipziger Straße connects historical depth with current relevance. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Even in historical detail, the waterworks Leipziger Straße is interesting. In the drinking and wastewater history published by EWP, it is described that the plant went into operation in 1900 after only two years of construction in close proximity to the Havel. Six wells supplied pumps that could extract up to 5,000 cubic meters of water per day. The waterworks was thus from the very beginning not a side show but a performance center of municipal infrastructure. Later, the network was further expanded, electric pumping operations were introduced, and the supply was extended to southern locations and communities. This historical development explains why the site is still perceived today as a symbol of supply security, technical innovation, and regional responsibility. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Drinking Water Extraction, Treatment, and Water Quality
The actual heart of the waterworks is the treatment of Potsdam's drinking water. EWP explains on its overview page that Potsdam water is pure groundwater. It is initially extracted from wells and pumped as raw water to the waterworks. There it is aerated with air oxygen and then passed through filters filled with quartz gravel. In this process, undissolved components such as iron and manganese are retained; oxidation makes them filterable. Particularly important for quality is that no chemicals are added to the treatment process in Potsdam and that the drinking water does not need to be disinfected. EWP also emphasizes that the water is free of chlorine or disinfection by-products. For many search queries related to water quality, groundwater, and drinking water Potsdam, this point is crucial. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
At the Leipziger Straße site, a closed treatment with quartz gravel and deacidification is used. This is not only technically relevant but also important for public perception, as it shows that water quality here relies not only on extraction volume but also on process stability and natural treatment. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes tours in the waterworks as a way to trace the path of water from raw water to drinking water. In the current project description of EWP, it also becomes clear that the site is designed and further developed for demanding raw water: For a modernization project, pilot tests were conducted because the groundwater from several wells on the plant site and in the Dauerwald area is challenging in terms of humic substances, iron, manganese, and ammonium. Solutions chosen include pure oxygen aeration, two-stage filtration, flocculant dosing, and a ultrafiltration plant. This keeps the site also technically a place where water quality is actively shaped. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
It is also interesting for visitors that EWP describes its water as suitable for baby food and toddlers. This statement is particularly strong in the local context as it makes immediately clear how high the demands on the supply are. In practice, this means: The Leipziger Straße site stands for a very high standard in drinking water treatment, based on natural raw water, mechanical-physical cleaning, and controlled treatment. This combination of groundwater, quartz gravel filters, and deacidification is not spectacular in the usual event sense, but therein lies its strength: Quality does not arise from show but from reliable technology, maintenance, and continuous modernization. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Capacity, Supply Area, and Ongoing Modernization
Even in terms of capacity, the waterworks Leipziger Straße shows its significance for Potsdam. The official site page states an extraction capacity of an average of 10,000 cubic meters per day. A current project page from BAURCONSULT describes the existing treatment capacity of the waterworks as a maximum of 12,000 cubic meters per day and explains that, in view of the steadily growing water demand of the state capital, an expansion by an additional 4,000 cubic meters per day to 16,000 cubic meters per day is planned. These different figures are not contradictory but show different perspectives: once the official average figure, once the project-related description of a modernized expansion state. For those searching for capacity waterworks, expansion, drinking water Potsdam, or supply security, both figures are relevant. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The supply area particularly highlights the city-wide significance of the site. EWP lists on its site page, among others, Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Waldstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and Zentrum Ost. In a press release from 2014, it is additionally stated that the waterworks Leipziger Straße also supplies Teltower and Templiner Vorstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, as well as parts of the northern city center and also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. At that time, around 47,000 residents, including businesses and public institutions, received fresh drinking water from the plant. This number is important for classification as it shows that Leipziger Straße is not just a local plant but a regionally relevant supplier in the southern surrounding area. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The ongoing modernization underscores the future-oriented character of the site. In the responsibility report of the Potsdam utilities for 2021, it is mentioned that the construction of a partial current system for the separate treatment of well water at the waterworks Leipziger Straße has begun. The Energy and Water Potsdam GmbH estimates the project will reduce electricity consumption by 58,800 kilowatt-hours per year and save 25.64 tons of CO2 per year. At the same time, the extraction period was described from March 2024 to the end of 2025. This makes it clear that the site is not only geared towards larger capacity but also towards climate protection and operational safety. For those searching for modern infrastructure in Potsdam, this is an example of how municipal supply, energy efficiency, and supply security interact. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/stadtwerke/pdf_6/swp_verantwortungsbericht_2021.pdf))
Guided Tours, School Project, and Open House Day
Although the waterworks Leipziger Straße is primarily a supply site, the transmission of knowledge plays a noticeable role. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes the waterworks as part of their experience world for explorers. During a tour, students can trace the path of water and experience how raw water becomes drinking water. Accompanying material for school communication also provides specific data: target group from 5th grade, a class with two supervisors, duration of one to one and a half hours, appointment every second Wednesday of the month between 8 AM and 2 PM, free of charge. Such information is particularly helpful for families, teachers, and educational institutions as it improves practical planning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Additionally, the public special use of the site during action days is noteworthy. For the 125th anniversary, EWP invited to an open house day on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in July 2025. According to EWP, the event took place from 11 AM to 4 PM, entry was free, and visitors received rare insights behind the scenes of water supply. The announcement emphasized tours, a colorful participation program, and family offerings around the theme of water. For the SEO topics open house day waterworks and guided tour waterworks, this is a central evidence that the site is consciously opened and communicatively staged at least on special days. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/125-jahre-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe-%E2%80%93-ewp-l%C3%A4dt-zum-tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr.html))
For search queries related to events, programs, or visits, it is also important that EWP does not market the site as a classic ticket location but as a learning and experience place with a technical focus. This distinguishes it from a stage, a trade fair site, or a concert hall. Instead of seating and show programs, the focus here is on filter technology, pumps, water protection, and supply security. This authenticity makes the waterworks Leipziger Straße attractive for schools, environmental education, and curious visitor groups who want to experience real infrastructure. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Address, Access, and Parking at the Waterworks
The official event address is Leipziger Straße 13, 14473 Potsdam. For the open house day 2025, EWP explicitly recommended arriving on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. Bicycle parking spaces were provided on the premises, while parking options for cars in Leipziger Straße were limited. For the search terms access waterworks and parking Leipziger Straße, this is the most important practical information as it best describes real accessibility. Therefore, those planning to arrive by car should not expect a generous event parking landscape but rather a consciously tight parking situation in the immediate vicinity. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
The surrounding area has also become more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The state capital Potsdam announced the completion of the waterfront path waterworks on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße at the end of 2023. With the connection to the existing waterfront path network, an important gap between the main train station, storage city, Hermannswerder, and towards Caputh has been closed. The city emphasized that both visitors to the facilities located there and daily commuters and school routes benefit from this. For visitors who come by bicycle or want to combine a walk with technical and scenic interest, this is a strong argument. In practice, this means: Those who want to head to the waterworks Leipziger Straße should best plan to use public transport, bicycle, or a short walk. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/521-uferweg-wasserwerk-leipziger-strasse-fertiggestellt))
That the site is located in a functional infrastructure context does not change the fact that it is easily findable for visitors. EWP consciously positions the site as an easily accessible learning location during special events but not as a permanently public excursion site with extensive parking infrastructure. This mix of technical seriousness and occasional opening makes the location interesting: it is practically accessible but at the same time part of a sensitive supply area. Those making their way should therefore pay attention to the current notices from EWP and, if in doubt, prepare for a short, clear journey with few logistical hurdles. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
Water Protection Area, Importance for Potsdam and the Region
A waterworks of this size only functions if its resource is protected. That is why EWP welcomed the re-establishment of the ordinance for the drinking water protection area of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in 2014. The old regulation from the 1980s was replaced, and the management emphasized that the new protection area makes an important contribution to the long-term security of drinking water supply in Potsdam and the southern surrounding area. This is more than a legal footnote: it shows how closely the plant is linked to regional development and why environmental protection, land use planning, and water supply belong together here. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
The issue of the protection area is also important because the waterworks, according to EWP, not only supplies the districts of Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and parts of the northern city center but also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. Thus, Leipziger Straße is a site of urban and regional significance. When EWP additionally emphasizes in its overview that its water is obtained from pure groundwater, no chemicals are added, and the water is suitable for baby food and toddlers, it becomes clear how high the demands for protection, quality, and stability are. In SEO terms, this is the point where the topics water protection area, water quality Potsdam, and groundwater Potsdam content-wise converge. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
That the site is simultaneously being modernized and achieving energy savings adds a climate perspective to this picture. The pump renewal not only reduces electricity consumption but also strengthens the operational safety of the plant. Together with the protection area, the new treatment solutions, and the continuous historical development, the waterworks Leipziger Straße demonstrates what municipal public services must achieve today: clean drinking water, stable supply, responsible resource protection, and transparency towards the public. That is why this place remains so important for Potsdam, even if it works more in the background in everyday life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/pumpentausch-im-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe/))
Therefore, those searching for waterworks Leipziger Straße are not just looking for an address but for a functioning part of the city. The plant connects water quality, supply security, history, education, and climate protection in a compact space. It is a place for people who want to understand how drinking water is produced in Potsdam, why protection areas are necessary, and how technical facilities are adapted to growing needs. This is precisely what makes its SEO relevance: The location meets real informational needs while also providing a genuine opportunity for visits and learning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Sources:
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Our Waterworks Introduced
- Energy and Water Potsdam - History of Water Supply
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Open House Day at the Waterworks 2025
- State Capital Potsdam - Waterfront Path Waterworks Leipziger Straße Completed
- Potsdam Utilities - Teaching Materials and Offers for Schools
- BAURCONSULT Architects and Engineers - Waterworks Leipziger Straße Potsdam
Mehr anzeigenWeniger anzeigen
EWP Waterworks Leipziger Straße | Drinking Water & History
The waterworks Leipziger Straße is much more than a technical operation point on the edge of Potsdam's city center: it is a piece of municipal city history, a central building block of drinking water supply, and a location where modern treatment technology, long usage tradition, and educational offerings for schools come together. Officially, EWP refers to the site as one of its five waterworks; the site overview has classified it since 1900, with an average extraction capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day, closed treatment with quartz gravel, and deacidification. At the same time, recent public relations work shows that the site is also open for tours and special action days. Those who want to understand the site learn not only about raw water, filters, pumps, and protection areas but also about how a growing city secures its supply in the long term. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Particularly exciting about the waterworks Leipziger Straße is the balancing act between everyday life and exception: In normal operation, it reliably supplies drinking water for Potsdam and the surrounding area, while special formats such as school tours or an open house day make the otherwise technical site accessible to visitors. This makes Leipziger Straße a location that is primarily searched in SEO contexts for history, drinking water, capacity, tours, access, and parking. These topics also shape the following sections. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
History of the Waterworks Leipziger Straße since 1900
The history of the site can only be properly placed in the larger context of Potsdam's drinking water supply. The official chronicle of EWP begins with the first waterworks in Bertinistraße in 1876 and describes how Potsdam gradually built a modern industrial water supply in the following decades. The second waterworks in Leipziger Straße went into operation in 1900 and supplemented the supply of the growing city. The historical documentation also makes it clear that the plant supplied the southern city areas in the first decades and soon reached its limits as Potsdam continued to grow and the demand steadily increased. This development is typical for a city where water infrastructure is not only a technical detail but a prerequisite for urban development, health, and quality of life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/geschichte/))
Particularly formative was the technical development after the Second World War. The EWP history documents that the waterworks Leipziger Straße was expanded in 1952 and supplemented with two-stage rapid filters so that additional districts could be reliably supplied. In the 1990s, a fundamental renovation followed: filter system, control, machine house, clean water tank, and plant outlet line were renewed one after the other. This shows that the site was not preserved as a rigid monument but was repeatedly adapted to new requirements. Additionally, the recent security provided by the newly designated drinking water protection area in 2014, according to EWP, makes an important contribution to the long-term security of supply. In 2025, the site came back into the public eye with its 125th anniversary and an open house day. Thus, Leipziger Straße connects historical depth with current relevance. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Even in historical detail, the waterworks Leipziger Straße is interesting. In the drinking and wastewater history published by EWP, it is described that the plant went into operation in 1900 after only two years of construction in close proximity to the Havel. Six wells supplied pumps that could extract up to 5,000 cubic meters of water per day. The waterworks was thus from the very beginning not a side show but a performance center of municipal infrastructure. Later, the network was further expanded, electric pumping operations were introduced, and the supply was extended to southern locations and communities. This historical development explains why the site is still perceived today as a symbol of supply security, technical innovation, and regional responsibility. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Drinking Water Extraction, Treatment, and Water Quality
The actual heart of the waterworks is the treatment of Potsdam's drinking water. EWP explains on its overview page that Potsdam water is pure groundwater. It is initially extracted from wells and pumped as raw water to the waterworks. There it is aerated with air oxygen and then passed through filters filled with quartz gravel. In this process, undissolved components such as iron and manganese are retained; oxidation makes them filterable. Particularly important for quality is that no chemicals are added to the treatment process in Potsdam and that the drinking water does not need to be disinfected. EWP also emphasizes that the water is free of chlorine or disinfection by-products. For many search queries related to water quality, groundwater, and drinking water Potsdam, this point is crucial. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
At the Leipziger Straße site, a closed treatment with quartz gravel and deacidification is used. This is not only technically relevant but also important for public perception, as it shows that water quality here relies not only on extraction volume but also on process stability and natural treatment. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes tours in the waterworks as a way to trace the path of water from raw water to drinking water. In the current project description of EWP, it also becomes clear that the site is designed and further developed for demanding raw water: For a modernization project, pilot tests were conducted because the groundwater from several wells on the plant site and in the Dauerwald area is challenging in terms of humic substances, iron, manganese, and ammonium. Solutions chosen include pure oxygen aeration, two-stage filtration, flocculant dosing, and a ultrafiltration plant. This keeps the site also technically a place where water quality is actively shaped. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
It is also interesting for visitors that EWP describes its water as suitable for baby food and toddlers. This statement is particularly strong in the local context as it makes immediately clear how high the demands on the supply are. In practice, this means: The Leipziger Straße site stands for a very high standard in drinking water treatment, based on natural raw water, mechanical-physical cleaning, and controlled treatment. This combination of groundwater, quartz gravel filters, and deacidification is not spectacular in the usual event sense, but therein lies its strength: Quality does not arise from show but from reliable technology, maintenance, and continuous modernization. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Capacity, Supply Area, and Ongoing Modernization
Even in terms of capacity, the waterworks Leipziger Straße shows its significance for Potsdam. The official site page states an extraction capacity of an average of 10,000 cubic meters per day. A current project page from BAURCONSULT describes the existing treatment capacity of the waterworks as a maximum of 12,000 cubic meters per day and explains that, in view of the steadily growing water demand of the state capital, an expansion by an additional 4,000 cubic meters per day to 16,000 cubic meters per day is planned. These different figures are not contradictory but show different perspectives: once the official average figure, once the project-related description of a modernized expansion state. For those searching for capacity waterworks, expansion, drinking water Potsdam, or supply security, both figures are relevant. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The supply area particularly highlights the city-wide significance of the site. EWP lists on its site page, among others, Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Waldstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and Zentrum Ost. In a press release from 2014, it is additionally stated that the waterworks Leipziger Straße also supplies Teltower and Templiner Vorstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, as well as parts of the northern city center and also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. At that time, around 47,000 residents, including businesses and public institutions, received fresh drinking water from the plant. This number is important for classification as it shows that Leipziger Straße is not just a local plant but a regionally relevant supplier in the southern surrounding area. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The ongoing modernization underscores the future-oriented character of the site. In the responsibility report of the Potsdam utilities for 2021, it is mentioned that the construction of a partial current system for the separate treatment of well water at the waterworks Leipziger Straße has begun. The Energy and Water Potsdam GmbH estimates the project will reduce electricity consumption by 58,800 kilowatt-hours per year and save 25.64 tons of CO2 per year. At the same time, the extraction period was described from March 2024 to the end of 2025. This makes it clear that the site is not only geared towards larger capacity but also towards climate protection and operational safety. For those searching for modern infrastructure in Potsdam, this is an example of how municipal supply, energy efficiency, and supply security interact. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/stadtwerke/pdf_6/swp_verantwortungsbericht_2021.pdf))
Guided Tours, School Project, and Open House Day
Although the waterworks Leipziger Straße is primarily a supply site, the transmission of knowledge plays a noticeable role. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes the waterworks as part of their experience world for explorers. During a tour, students can trace the path of water and experience how raw water becomes drinking water. Accompanying material for school communication also provides specific data: target group from 5th grade, a class with two supervisors, duration of one to one and a half hours, appointment every second Wednesday of the month between 8 AM and 2 PM, free of charge. Such information is particularly helpful for families, teachers, and educational institutions as it improves practical planning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Additionally, the public special use of the site during action days is noteworthy. For the 125th anniversary, EWP invited to an open house day on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in July 2025. According to EWP, the event took place from 11 AM to 4 PM, entry was free, and visitors received rare insights behind the scenes of water supply. The announcement emphasized tours, a colorful participation program, and family offerings around the theme of water. For the SEO topics open house day waterworks and guided tour waterworks, this is a central evidence that the site is consciously opened and communicatively staged at least on special days. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/125-jahre-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe-%E2%80%93-ewp-l%C3%A4dt-zum-tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr.html))
For search queries related to events, programs, or visits, it is also important that EWP does not market the site as a classic ticket location but as a learning and experience place with a technical focus. This distinguishes it from a stage, a trade fair site, or a concert hall. Instead of seating and show programs, the focus here is on filter technology, pumps, water protection, and supply security. This authenticity makes the waterworks Leipziger Straße attractive for schools, environmental education, and curious visitor groups who want to experience real infrastructure. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Address, Access, and Parking at the Waterworks
The official event address is Leipziger Straße 13, 14473 Potsdam. For the open house day 2025, EWP explicitly recommended arriving on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. Bicycle parking spaces were provided on the premises, while parking options for cars in Leipziger Straße were limited. For the search terms access waterworks and parking Leipziger Straße, this is the most important practical information as it best describes real accessibility. Therefore, those planning to arrive by car should not expect a generous event parking landscape but rather a consciously tight parking situation in the immediate vicinity. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
The surrounding area has also become more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The state capital Potsdam announced the completion of the waterfront path waterworks on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße at the end of 2023. With the connection to the existing waterfront path network, an important gap between the main train station, storage city, Hermannswerder, and towards Caputh has been closed. The city emphasized that both visitors to the facilities located there and daily commuters and school routes benefit from this. For visitors who come by bicycle or want to combine a walk with technical and scenic interest, this is a strong argument. In practice, this means: Those who want to head to the waterworks Leipziger Straße should best plan to use public transport, bicycle, or a short walk. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/521-uferweg-wasserwerk-leipziger-strasse-fertiggestellt))
That the site is located in a functional infrastructure context does not change the fact that it is easily findable for visitors. EWP consciously positions the site as an easily accessible learning location during special events but not as a permanently public excursion site with extensive parking infrastructure. This mix of technical seriousness and occasional opening makes the location interesting: it is practically accessible but at the same time part of a sensitive supply area. Those making their way should therefore pay attention to the current notices from EWP and, if in doubt, prepare for a short, clear journey with few logistical hurdles. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
Water Protection Area, Importance for Potsdam and the Region
A waterworks of this size only functions if its resource is protected. That is why EWP welcomed the re-establishment of the ordinance for the drinking water protection area of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in 2014. The old regulation from the 1980s was replaced, and the management emphasized that the new protection area makes an important contribution to the long-term security of drinking water supply in Potsdam and the southern surrounding area. This is more than a legal footnote: it shows how closely the plant is linked to regional development and why environmental protection, land use planning, and water supply belong together here. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
The issue of the protection area is also important because the waterworks, according to EWP, not only supplies the districts of Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and parts of the northern city center but also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. Thus, Leipziger Straße is a site of urban and regional significance. When EWP additionally emphasizes in its overview that its water is obtained from pure groundwater, no chemicals are added, and the water is suitable for baby food and toddlers, it becomes clear how high the demands for protection, quality, and stability are. In SEO terms, this is the point where the topics water protection area, water quality Potsdam, and groundwater Potsdam content-wise converge. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
That the site is simultaneously being modernized and achieving energy savings adds a climate perspective to this picture. The pump renewal not only reduces electricity consumption but also strengthens the operational safety of the plant. Together with the protection area, the new treatment solutions, and the continuous historical development, the waterworks Leipziger Straße demonstrates what municipal public services must achieve today: clean drinking water, stable supply, responsible resource protection, and transparency towards the public. That is why this place remains so important for Potsdam, even if it works more in the background in everyday life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/pumpentausch-im-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe/))
Therefore, those searching for waterworks Leipziger Straße are not just looking for an address but for a functioning part of the city. The plant connects water quality, supply security, history, education, and climate protection in a compact space. It is a place for people who want to understand how drinking water is produced in Potsdam, why protection areas are necessary, and how technical facilities are adapted to growing needs. This is precisely what makes its SEO relevance: The location meets real informational needs while also providing a genuine opportunity for visits and learning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Sources:
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Our Waterworks Introduced
- Energy and Water Potsdam - History of Water Supply
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Open House Day at the Waterworks 2025
- State Capital Potsdam - Waterfront Path Waterworks Leipziger Straße Completed
- Potsdam Utilities - Teaching Materials and Offers for Schools
- BAURCONSULT Architects and Engineers - Waterworks Leipziger Straße Potsdam
EWP Waterworks Leipziger Straße | Drinking Water & History
The waterworks Leipziger Straße is much more than a technical operation point on the edge of Potsdam's city center: it is a piece of municipal city history, a central building block of drinking water supply, and a location where modern treatment technology, long usage tradition, and educational offerings for schools come together. Officially, EWP refers to the site as one of its five waterworks; the site overview has classified it since 1900, with an average extraction capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day, closed treatment with quartz gravel, and deacidification. At the same time, recent public relations work shows that the site is also open for tours and special action days. Those who want to understand the site learn not only about raw water, filters, pumps, and protection areas but also about how a growing city secures its supply in the long term. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Particularly exciting about the waterworks Leipziger Straße is the balancing act between everyday life and exception: In normal operation, it reliably supplies drinking water for Potsdam and the surrounding area, while special formats such as school tours or an open house day make the otherwise technical site accessible to visitors. This makes Leipziger Straße a location that is primarily searched in SEO contexts for history, drinking water, capacity, tours, access, and parking. These topics also shape the following sections. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
History of the Waterworks Leipziger Straße since 1900
The history of the site can only be properly placed in the larger context of Potsdam's drinking water supply. The official chronicle of EWP begins with the first waterworks in Bertinistraße in 1876 and describes how Potsdam gradually built a modern industrial water supply in the following decades. The second waterworks in Leipziger Straße went into operation in 1900 and supplemented the supply of the growing city. The historical documentation also makes it clear that the plant supplied the southern city areas in the first decades and soon reached its limits as Potsdam continued to grow and the demand steadily increased. This development is typical for a city where water infrastructure is not only a technical detail but a prerequisite for urban development, health, and quality of life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/geschichte/))
Particularly formative was the technical development after the Second World War. The EWP history documents that the waterworks Leipziger Straße was expanded in 1952 and supplemented with two-stage rapid filters so that additional districts could be reliably supplied. In the 1990s, a fundamental renovation followed: filter system, control, machine house, clean water tank, and plant outlet line were renewed one after the other. This shows that the site was not preserved as a rigid monument but was repeatedly adapted to new requirements. Additionally, the recent security provided by the newly designated drinking water protection area in 2014, according to EWP, makes an important contribution to the long-term security of supply. In 2025, the site came back into the public eye with its 125th anniversary and an open house day. Thus, Leipziger Straße connects historical depth with current relevance. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Even in historical detail, the waterworks Leipziger Straße is interesting. In the drinking and wastewater history published by EWP, it is described that the plant went into operation in 1900 after only two years of construction in close proximity to the Havel. Six wells supplied pumps that could extract up to 5,000 cubic meters of water per day. The waterworks was thus from the very beginning not a side show but a performance center of municipal infrastructure. Later, the network was further expanded, electric pumping operations were introduced, and the supply was extended to southern locations and communities. This historical development explains why the site is still perceived today as a symbol of supply security, technical innovation, and regional responsibility. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/wasser/pdf_8/ewp_potsdamer_trink__und_abwassergeschichte.pdf))
Drinking Water Extraction, Treatment, and Water Quality
The actual heart of the waterworks is the treatment of Potsdam's drinking water. EWP explains on its overview page that Potsdam water is pure groundwater. It is initially extracted from wells and pumped as raw water to the waterworks. There it is aerated with air oxygen and then passed through filters filled with quartz gravel. In this process, undissolved components such as iron and manganese are retained; oxidation makes them filterable. Particularly important for quality is that no chemicals are added to the treatment process in Potsdam and that the drinking water does not need to be disinfected. EWP also emphasizes that the water is free of chlorine or disinfection by-products. For many search queries related to water quality, groundwater, and drinking water Potsdam, this point is crucial. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
At the Leipziger Straße site, a closed treatment with quartz gravel and deacidification is used. This is not only technically relevant but also important for public perception, as it shows that water quality here relies not only on extraction volume but also on process stability and natural treatment. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes tours in the waterworks as a way to trace the path of water from raw water to drinking water. In the current project description of EWP, it also becomes clear that the site is designed and further developed for demanding raw water: For a modernization project, pilot tests were conducted because the groundwater from several wells on the plant site and in the Dauerwald area is challenging in terms of humic substances, iron, manganese, and ammonium. Solutions chosen include pure oxygen aeration, two-stage filtration, flocculant dosing, and a ultrafiltration plant. This keeps the site also technically a place where water quality is actively shaped. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
It is also interesting for visitors that EWP describes its water as suitable for baby food and toddlers. This statement is particularly strong in the local context as it makes immediately clear how high the demands on the supply are. In practice, this means: The Leipziger Straße site stands for a very high standard in drinking water treatment, based on natural raw water, mechanical-physical cleaning, and controlled treatment. This combination of groundwater, quartz gravel filters, and deacidification is not spectacular in the usual event sense, but therein lies its strength: Quality does not arise from show but from reliable technology, maintenance, and continuous modernization. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Capacity, Supply Area, and Ongoing Modernization
Even in terms of capacity, the waterworks Leipziger Straße shows its significance for Potsdam. The official site page states an extraction capacity of an average of 10,000 cubic meters per day. A current project page from BAURCONSULT describes the existing treatment capacity of the waterworks as a maximum of 12,000 cubic meters per day and explains that, in view of the steadily growing water demand of the state capital, an expansion by an additional 4,000 cubic meters per day to 16,000 cubic meters per day is planned. These different figures are not contradictory but show different perspectives: once the official average figure, once the project-related description of a modernized expansion state. For those searching for capacity waterworks, expansion, drinking water Potsdam, or supply security, both figures are relevant. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The supply area particularly highlights the city-wide significance of the site. EWP lists on its site page, among others, Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Waldstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and Zentrum Ost. In a press release from 2014, it is additionally stated that the waterworks Leipziger Straße also supplies Teltower and Templiner Vorstadt, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, as well as parts of the northern city center and also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. At that time, around 47,000 residents, including businesses and public institutions, received fresh drinking water from the plant. This number is important for classification as it shows that Leipziger Straße is not just a local plant but a regionally relevant supplier in the southern surrounding area. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
The ongoing modernization underscores the future-oriented character of the site. In the responsibility report of the Potsdam utilities for 2021, it is mentioned that the construction of a partial current system for the separate treatment of well water at the waterworks Leipziger Straße has begun. The Energy and Water Potsdam GmbH estimates the project will reduce electricity consumption by 58,800 kilowatt-hours per year and save 25.64 tons of CO2 per year. At the same time, the extraction period was described from March 2024 to the end of 2025. This makes it clear that the site is not only geared towards larger capacity but also towards climate protection and operational safety. For those searching for modern infrastructure in Potsdam, this is an example of how municipal supply, energy efficiency, and supply security interact. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/content/stadtwerke/pdf_6/swp_verantwortungsbericht_2021.pdf))
Guided Tours, School Project, and Open House Day
Although the waterworks Leipziger Straße is primarily a supply site, the transmission of knowledge plays a noticeable role. The school communication of the Potsdam utilities describes the waterworks as part of their experience world for explorers. During a tour, students can trace the path of water and experience how raw water becomes drinking water. Accompanying material for school communication also provides specific data: target group from 5th grade, a class with two supervisors, duration of one to one and a half hours, appointment every second Wednesday of the month between 8 AM and 2 PM, free of charge. Such information is particularly helpful for families, teachers, and educational institutions as it improves practical planning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Additionally, the public special use of the site during action days is noteworthy. For the 125th anniversary, EWP invited to an open house day on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in July 2025. According to EWP, the event took place from 11 AM to 4 PM, entry was free, and visitors received rare insights behind the scenes of water supply. The announcement emphasized tours, a colorful participation program, and family offerings around the theme of water. For the SEO topics open house day waterworks and guided tour waterworks, this is a central evidence that the site is consciously opened and communicatively staged at least on special days. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/125-jahre-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe-%E2%80%93-ewp-l%C3%A4dt-zum-tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr.html))
For search queries related to events, programs, or visits, it is also important that EWP does not market the site as a classic ticket location but as a learning and experience place with a technical focus. This distinguishes it from a stage, a trade fair site, or a concert hall. Instead of seating and show programs, the focus here is on filter technology, pumps, water protection, and supply security. This authenticity makes the waterworks Leipziger Straße attractive for schools, environmental education, and curious visitor groups who want to experience real infrastructure. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/lehrer-und-schulecke/))
Address, Access, and Parking at the Waterworks
The official event address is Leipziger Straße 13, 14473 Potsdam. For the open house day 2025, EWP explicitly recommended arriving on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. Bicycle parking spaces were provided on the premises, while parking options for cars in Leipziger Straße were limited. For the search terms access waterworks and parking Leipziger Straße, this is the most important practical information as it best describes real accessibility. Therefore, those planning to arrive by car should not expect a generous event parking landscape but rather a consciously tight parking situation in the immediate vicinity. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
The surrounding area has also become more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The state capital Potsdam announced the completion of the waterfront path waterworks on the premises of the waterworks Leipziger Straße at the end of 2023. With the connection to the existing waterfront path network, an important gap between the main train station, storage city, Hermannswerder, and towards Caputh has been closed. The city emphasized that both visitors to the facilities located there and daily commuters and school routes benefit from this. For visitors who come by bicycle or want to combine a walk with technical and scenic interest, this is a strong argument. In practice, this means: Those who want to head to the waterworks Leipziger Straße should best plan to use public transport, bicycle, or a short walk. ([potsdam.de](https://www.potsdam.de/de/521-uferweg-wasserwerk-leipziger-strasse-fertiggestellt))
That the site is located in a functional infrastructure context does not change the fact that it is easily findable for visitors. EWP consciously positions the site as an easily accessible learning location during special events but not as a permanently public excursion site with extensive parking infrastructure. This mix of technical seriousness and occasional opening makes the location interesting: it is practically accessible but at the same time part of a sensitive supply area. Those making their way should therefore pay attention to the current notices from EWP and, if in doubt, prepare for a short, clear journey with few logistical hurdles. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/tag-der-offenen-t%C3%BCr-wasserwerk/))
Water Protection Area, Importance for Potsdam and the Region
A waterworks of this size only functions if its resource is protected. That is why EWP welcomed the re-establishment of the ordinance for the drinking water protection area of the waterworks Leipziger Straße in 2014. The old regulation from the 1980s was replaced, and the management emphasized that the new protection area makes an important contribution to the long-term security of drinking water supply in Potsdam and the southern surrounding area. This is more than a legal footnote: it shows how closely the plant is linked to regional development and why environmental protection, land use planning, and water supply belong together here. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
The issue of the protection area is also important because the waterworks, according to EWP, not only supplies the districts of Teltower Vorstadt, Templiner Vorstadt, Caputh, Babelsberg, Schlaatz, and parts of the northern city center but also delivers drinking water to Wilhelmshorst and Michendorf. Thus, Leipziger Straße is a site of urban and regional significance. When EWP additionally emphasizes in its overview that its water is obtained from pure groundwater, no chemicals are added, and the water is suitable for baby food and toddlers, it becomes clear how high the demands for protection, quality, and stability are. In SEO terms, this is the point where the topics water protection area, water quality Potsdam, and groundwater Potsdam content-wise converge. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/stadtwerke-potsdam/pressemeldungen/ewp-begr%C3%BC%C3%9Ft-neue-verordnung-zum-trinkwasserschutzgebiet-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe.html))
That the site is simultaneously being modernized and achieving energy savings adds a climate perspective to this picture. The pump renewal not only reduces electricity consumption but also strengthens the operational safety of the plant. Together with the protection area, the new treatment solutions, and the continuous historical development, the waterworks Leipziger Straße demonstrates what municipal public services must achieve today: clean drinking water, stable supply, responsible resource protection, and transparency towards the public. That is why this place remains so important for Potsdam, even if it works more in the background in everyday life. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/pumpentausch-im-wasserwerk-leipziger-stra%C3%9Fe/))
Therefore, those searching for waterworks Leipziger Straße are not just looking for an address but for a functioning part of the city. The plant connects water quality, supply security, history, education, and climate protection in a compact space. It is a place for people who want to understand how drinking water is produced in Potsdam, why protection areas are necessary, and how technical facilities are adapted to growing needs. This is precisely what makes its SEO relevance: The location meets real informational needs while also providing a genuine opportunity for visits and learning. ([swp-potsdam.de](https://www.swp-potsdam.de/de/wasser/potsdamer-wasserwerke/))
Sources:
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Our Waterworks Introduced
- Energy and Water Potsdam - History of Water Supply
- Energy and Water Potsdam - Open House Day at the Waterworks 2025
- State Capital Potsdam - Waterfront Path Waterworks Leipziger Straße Completed
- Potsdam Utilities - Teaching Materials and Offers for Schools
- BAURCONSULT Architects and Engineers - Waterworks Leipziger Straße Potsdam
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