Lodz Lands: A Journey Into Europe's Sewer System

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Each ancient city can boast of the presence of underground catacombs, drainage systems, tunnels, which were created over many centuries. The Polish city of Lodz was no exception, where the water and sewerage system has been preserved in perfect condition, which is still operating to this day. This grandiose engineering facility is recognized as the most beautiful sewerage system in Europe, arousing increased interest not only among researchers of technogenic underground structures, but also among journalists, and even … musicians who are occasionally allowed to give concerts here.

Each ancient city can boast of the presence of underground catacombs, drainage systems, tunnels, which were created over many centuries. The Polish city of Lodz was no exception, where the water and sewerage system has been preserved in perfect condition, which is still operating to this day. This grandiose engineering facility is recognized as the most beautiful sewerage system in Europe, arousing increased interest not only among researchers of technogenic underground structures, but also among journalists, and even … musicians who are occasionally allowed to give concerts here.

The hidden depths of some ancient settlements can be much more attractive than the preserved architectural sights in the streets of the city itself. The city of Lodz, located in central Poland, is a prime example of this inconsistency.

Despite the fact that Lodz was founded back in 1423, it is most attractive for its underground engineering structure, designed only in 1901-1909. This object was a completely prosaic water and sewage system of the city, although it was developed on a truly royal scale.

Such an ambitious project for 8 years was developed by the famous engineer of English origin William Lindley (1853-1917), who created the famous sewerage system of Samara, recognized as one of the most beautiful in Russia. It came as no surprise that the ód underground facility is distinguished by its majesty and beauty, matching palaces or grandiose cathedrals.

Reference:William Lindley was such an extraordinary and talented engineer that he was able to create unique objects that have no equal in all of Europe until now. It was in ód, along with 105 km of sewage tunnels, that he designed incredible underground drinking water reservoirs, which are located at the highest point in the city - 260 meters above sea level. In addition to the fact that the tanks function as a giant water tower, these structures are a real masterpiece of architecture. The 60-meter-high bow-shaped walls, lined with bricks fired using a special technology, surprise not only with their ability to withstand the pressure of 100 thousand cubic meters of water.

As it turned out, the most extraordinary and unexpected architectural landmark of the city is located inside the water body. The magnificent decoration in the form of 100 brick vaulted domes, supported by 81 columns in each of the 4 reservoirs, will amaze even seasoned tourists and explorers.

It was these reservoirs that were eventually nicknamed the "Underground Cathedral", because their fame spread not only throughout the country, but all over the world. As it became known to the authors of Novate.ru, twice a year, one of the reservoirs is completely drained, and the specialists of the local water utility carry out a number of measures provided for by the rules for the operation of such facilities - complete disinfection, restoration and conservation work.

At that moment, when the unique object is empty, a real invasion of journalists, musicians and simply researchers of technogenic underground structures begins, who strive to get inside the "Underground Cathedral". Despite the fact that this is still a closed strategic object of the city, the leaders of the ZWiK enterprise and the authorities make concessions to those interested and allow photography, research and even chamber concerts.

The extensive underground network of the city's water and sewage system is no less impressive. It so happened that the creation of this vital object dragged on for many decades and the construction was no longer supervised by the author of the project himself, but by his student - engineer Stefan Skrzywan. For these large-scale works, the Lodz City Council allocated fabulous money at that time - 5 million zlotys, taking into account the dollar exchange rate for 1924, the amount was almost 1 million dollars. This became possible only because the country had already achieved independence by that time. Considering that Poland was going through another economic and political crisis during this period, many equate such a large-scale construction with a feat.

Despite the significant difficulties that arose during construction work, before the start of World War II, every third resident of the city already had the opportunity to use the central sewage system. By this time, the main lines were also created, the total length of which was 105 km. By the time the tunnels were launched, 2 of the 4 reservoirs designed by Lindley were completed and put into operation. In total, 10 such giant water tanks were built, six of which were already created from concrete according to a completely different project.

As in most European water and sewerage facilities, two canals were created in ód at the same time. One of them is designed to collect sewage, that is, a collector that removes wastewater outside the sewer to pumping stations and treatment facilities. Another canal, separated by only a small edge, copes with the rainwater flows that are delivered directly into the river. But this is in a normal situation, when the filling of the channel makes it possible to quickly discharge the sediment mass. During heavy rainstorms, the stream of sewage from the collector mixes with rainwater and goes into open water bodies, which ends up in tense ecological situations.

If you do not take into account the technical component of the work of the underground structure itself, but consider it from the point of view of architecture, then there is something to be surprised at and something to enjoy. Vaulted arched ceilings, columns on the forks of tunnels, various bridges, the almost perfect preservation of the integrity of the masonry, the huge dimensions and the extraordinary color of all surfaces (everything is finished with red bricks, fired using a special technology) - all this makes an indelible impression.