Prague Old Wastewater Treatment Plant - full guided tour!

The Old Wastewater Treatment Plant stands today as a testament to the early days of water management, embodying the architecture and technology of the early 20th century. This complex, with its surface and underground structures, mirrors the processes involved in wastewater treatment, primarily conducted beneath the ground.
Constructed between 1901 and 1906 by the Quido Bělský company, the plant commenced full operations in 1907 and served Prague until 1967. Sir William Heerlein Lindley, a pioneering water and sewerage engineer, designed Prague’s sewer system. Born in Hamburg in 1853 and passing in Great Britain in 1917, Lindley was known for his contributions to water supply and sewerage systems across Europe. His approach to design, tailored to local conditions, ensured that each of his projects was unique.
Prague’s sewer network construction began in 1899, and its original design allowed seamless integration with future expansions. The system relied on gravity to transport wastewater to a treatment site beyond the city, chosen for its low elevation near the Vltava River. This gravity-based system ensured effective removal of impurities before wastewater entered the river.
The plant functioned for sixty years, closing in 1967 but continuing sludge management until the 1980s. Architecturally, the building is marked by an asymmetrical central section with a prominent entrance, flanked by lower wings and topped with various types of roofing. A monumental hall, situated above the underground grit chamber, features a roof of angled steel trusses and freestanding chimneys, adding to the complex’s distinct character.
The underground grit chamber, a significant architectural feature, is vaulted with hard-baked brick. Its largest space, the grit chamber, measures 12 by 28 meters, with sewers A, B, and C opening into it. Originally, a water wheel ventilated this area, though it was later dismantled due to the natural draft benefiting the ventilation chimney. Circular glass-concrete skylights illuminate the chamber, and additional underground sedimentation tanks, accessible via a separate entrance, continue the vaulted brick design.
The complex includes the main building, underground grit chamber, chimneys, clarifiers, sludge wells, and a bridge for the former narrow-gauge railway, all preserved as cultural monuments. The chlorinating plant and screening chamber complete the site, which was declared a national cultural monument in 2010 and became an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage in 2016.
The Old Wastewater Treatment Plant in Prague-Bubeneč, built in 1906, showcases early 20th-century technological advancements in wastewater treatment. The plant’s design and location were chosen to utilize gravity for water flow. The complex remains intact, demonstrating the technological and structural standards of the era before biological and chemical treatment methods emerged.
Constructed with specially fired clinker brick, the plant’s structures have been preserved in their original form, illustrating the development of urban infrastructure. The integration of advanced mechanical cleaning technology into Prague’s sewer system was a notable achievement of the time.
The Old Wastewater Treatment Plant, with its preserved technical equipment, stands as an industrial architectural landmark. The functional machinery, including steam engines and boilers, remains operational, offering a unique educational experience. This preserved state provides insight into the early technology of wastewater treatment and the evolution of sanitary engineering.
Criterion (ii): The plant in Prague-Bubeneč is an exceptionally preserved example of early water management and urban infrastructure, illustrating the systematic approach to wastewater disposal and the technological standards of the early 20th century.
Criterion (iv): It exemplifies the advanced water management structures built in European cities at the turn of the 20th century, showcasing a responsible approach to environmental protection during rapid urban development. The plant’s design and preserved technology reveal a well-thought-out functional whole, emphasizing the importance of wastewater treatment in modern city development.
The Old Wastewater Treatment Plant’s authenticity is evident in its preserved structures and equipment, reflecting the state of operations from 1906 to 1967. Its high degree of authenticity and integrity demonstrate the technological and structural standards of early wastewater treatment. This complex remains a significant historical and educational resource, illustrating the evolution of urban infrastructure and sanitary engineering.