It is a high-tech facility where everything is just about right. With outstanding architecture, a clearly defined purpose and state-of-the-art technology inside, its new digesters are, therefore, characteristic of Würzburg wastewater treatment plant. In the future, 4,500 tonnes of sewage sludge will be produced each year, with an almost tripled annual capacity of 10,000 cubic metres. This means more digester gas and more power generation. 4.2 million kWh of additional electricity can now be produced to be consumed directly on site. As a result of this measure, the CO₂ balance improves enormously and the odour nuisance is also reduced. A focal point of the electrical engineering was the integration of the generated energy with the Mainfranken network in line with the Renewable Energy Sources Act. Specifically, the lightning protection system was a considerable planning challenge. Here, it was necessary to, on the one hand, adapt the components of the new digesters and, on the other, to protect their design membrane and the potentially explosive areas against lightning strikes. DAHLEM was responsible for the electrotechnical planning for all service phases.

At MARK 51º7, the former Opel factory site in Bochum, an industrial, technology and knowledge campus is currently being built that will fulfil the requirements of future work environments, supporting a work/life blend. With development at an advanced stage and the infrastructure almost entirely complete, the ambitious plan for the location is increasingly becoming a reality.For the development of the sewer and road construction, DAHLEM, as part of a joint venture, supervised the implementation of the gigantic and complex construction site. The design and construction supervision for the stormwater retention basin, with a volume of 6,500 m³ for protection in cases of heavy rain, has already been completed. The site was awarded the polis Award 2019 in its category as "Best urban surface recycling, MARK 51°7 - successful reactivation in eastern Bochum".

The focus of this year's IWASA symposium in the fight against floods is increasingly moving in the direction of heavy rain and flash flood events. In the past two decades, the formerly pure flood protection has evolved into flood risk management. Experts and the public focused on this development, accompanied by the requirements of the EU Flood Directive, in particular flood events on rivers, triggered by the flood events on the Rhine (1993 and 1995), Oder (1997) and Elbe (2002 and 2013). DAHLEM is represented with an information stand at the conference. You are welcome to discuss the high relevance of the topic, due to new requirements, with experienced colleagues from our Darmstadt office.

In the context of the 91^st Darmstadt seminar focusing on microplastics in wastewater and waste, the issues outlined will be presented and discussed in lectures. In this way, a comprehensive picture of current developments is given and supplemented by lectures on analytics, industrial and municipal entry routes and solution strategies. DAHLEM will be represented with an information stand at the accompanying trade exhibition during the event – herewith, the colleagues cordially invite you to discuss the topics covered with them.

Since 1^st January, 2020, Dr.-Ing. Jan-Gregor Dahlem, owner of DAHLEM Beratende Ingenieure GmbH & Co. Wasserwirtschaft KG, has become the new owner of Dr.-Ing. F. Schmidt-Bregas Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH based in Wiesbaden. Jan-Gregor Dahlem takes over the company shares and will drive the engineering company forward under its well-known name. With this step, the continued existence and performance of the Schmidt-Bregas office, including the jobs, are sustainably secured. The long-time managing director Dipl.-Ing. Martin Schmidt-Bregas, who will continue to manage the company, is very happy about the successful succession solution: "With this decision, we guarantee that our rich-in-tradition engineering company – after all, we are looking back on a company history spanning more than 40 years - will be competent and able to face the water management requirements of the future with the highest quality. This allows us to implement our customers‘ projects in the usual manner”. Schmidt-Bregas continues: “With this solution, we benefit in several ways because the tried and tested remains and the individual strengths of both companies can be combined. In addition, the companies already know each other from joint projects, so smooth cooperation is guaranteed".

The starting signal for the tenth ÖKOPROFIT project for the Essen and Bochum participants was given on September 26, 2019. With this project, the city of Essen supports companies in environmental and climate protection. The companies develop practical measures that relieve the environment and the climate and at the same time reduce operating costs. In total, the previous participants saved approximately 8.3 million Euro in operating costs annually. Around 550 measures were implemented, resulting in approximately 69.200 tons less CO₂ emissions. Energy consumption has been reduced by 99,7 million kilowatt hours, waste has been reduced by 2.750 t so far. Water consumption also decreased by approximately 167.000 cubic meters. For the first time, companies from the city of Bochum are also participating in the tenth round of ÖKOPROFIT Essen-Ruhrgebiet. Since 2002, the City of Essen has successfully completed nine ÖKOPROFIT-projects, and a total of 99 companies, enterprises and institutions have participated in it so far. The project is financially supported by the Ministry for the Environment, Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of NRW (MULNV). "Essen is my hometown and birthplace and has been the headquarters of our company for over 80 years," says Gregor Dahlem, who together with Markus Küppers forms the environmental team at DAHLEM. “I feel comfortable here and at home with my family. The project is not only exemplary for Essen, it generally shows: Everyone can do their part to protect the environment.“

Since the start of the woman's promotion programme ChanceMINT.NRW of the University of Duisburg-Essen, female students have been visiting DAHLEM Engineering Office. The female students at the Department of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Energy Systems are preparing for a career path that is highly male influenced. This year seven female students, together with two project coordinators, got an idea of the practical daily work process here. Jana Sommer, who designs sewage engineering systems as an engineer at DAHLEM, looked after the group and talked about her professional work routine. "It brings me great joy to inspire the female students for the versatile and interesting job of an engineer at an engineering office". In October 2013, the University of Duisburg-Essen started the program ChanceMINT.NRW for female students of natural sciences and engineering disciplines. The programme offers them the opportunity to gain networking and future-oriented practical experience in numerous workshops. Corporate advisors allow female students in the first three semesters to prepare for their professional entry and future career. Gregor Dahlem is involved in the programme as a corporate advisor: "Our employees are our most important asset. In order to promote young engineers at an early stage, we are glad to get involved with ChanceMINT.NRW."