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Here you are at 5 meter below ground level. You have basically gone down into the fountain. But not just any fountain, a dry one. What do I mean by dry? Well, up to 1914, submersible pumps, that are able to function under water, had not yet been invented. So, the designers intended the building to be a “dry fountain” in order to allow the two surface pumps to be close enough to the water pipe from the wells, without exceeding the hydrodynamic level. Thus, all 12 wells they reached down to a depth of 77 meters and captured under pressure water from deep aquifers. The two pumps would then drain it and push it to the iron removal room, that is the filtering station. All 12 wells would collect 60 liters of water per second.
What’s with all these colors? Through the pipelines that are now blue, raw water, freshly captured from the aquifer, used to run. Through the pipeline sections that are now green, filtered water used to run, water that was returned from the route in order to wash the wells. The water column was managed by the vanes located between the two colors, activated by those wheels we feel like playing with, and which enabled or blocked water to access the wells, from top to bottom. And he red pipelines carried air.
What about the UFO’s windows? Do they play an esthetic role and that’s it? Of course not. Let’s remember the project’s mantra: functionality and esthetics. The portholes on top of the concrete dome facilitated well installation and removal from inside the building.
And because I’ve mentioned installation and removal, I wonder what construction methods were available in early 20th century. How was it possible to dig up to 77 meter deep? How was it possible to build this spectacular yet solid building? Let’s remember, you already are inside the groundwater layer, and these walls still keep you nice and dry. The answer is: through hard human labor, of course. The archive images are a living proof of all the joint efforts for the city development. And also exhibit a snapshot of the construction works. Try to picture it!
Up to the 50s, when a new water treatment plant was built, but for water from the Bega river, the locals had drunken only deep water. That is water coming from the aquifer. The decision to complete the water need with treated river water was substantiated precisely by the need to protect groundwater sources. Even though aquifers are refilled by rainfall and rivers, many times nature cannot keep up with the rapid human consumption rate.
Today, Timisoara is supplied with drinking water around 75% from the river Bega and 25% comes from deep wells. All 49 deep wells are grouped into two catchment areas, located to the south-east. Collectively, they can provide 340 liters of water per second. For water resources protection purposes, the overall flow is maintained at about 200 liters per second.
You are now invited to take a closer look at the pumps, the treasures at the bottom of the fountain…