News

Climate protection is a responsibility we can only fulfill together. The nonprofit association Detmold 2035 e.V. is committed to making the city of Detmold climate-neutral and sustainable by 2035. As a platform for collaborative action, the association brings together the city administration, businesses, educational institutions, community organizations, and many other local stakeholders.

The section of Urban Water Management at TH OWL is a co-founder of the association and has been actively involved in its work since the beginning. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden, head of the section, also contributed directly to the development of the City of Detmold’s sustainability strategy. The association was founded to support the implementation of the aspects of the sustainability strategy. In the short film, Prof. Felmeden underscores the central importance of waterin the context of climate change and makes it clear that universities must not only teach and conduct research, but also help shape and implement change on the ground.

Watch now: Detmold
2035
promotional videoDetmold 2035 kick-off event

More about the association and ways to get involved

Everyone can get involved! Whether as an individual, an organization, or a company—Detmold 2035 thrives on the engagement of the local community.

From June 10 to 13, 19 students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts went on a technically diverse field trip to Dresden. The trip was led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden and five staff members from the Water Resources specialization. The trip was organized by Willy Leonhardt and Martin Zinnow from Dresden City Drainage. During the four-day excursion, the participants—who came from various semesters and specializations—gained insights into wastewatermanagement and flood protection in the capital of Saxony. Click
here for the press release

On June 3, 2025, students in the Civil Engineering degree program at the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts visited the “Trittstein Kuhkamp” area in Detmold. The field trip took place as part of the “Fundamentals of Hydraulic Engineering” module and was led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden and four staff members from the Hydraulic Engineering specialization. At the Werrebogen parking lot, the participants were welcomed by Andreas Hoffmann from the City of Detmold, who presented the background and implementation of the Werre river redesign. Click
here for the press release

On June 4, 2025, a lecture on water management was held as part of the “Sustainability Impulses” lecture series at the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts. In the Speakers’ Corner of the Centrum Industrial IT (CIIT) in Lemgo, Dr. Christoph Harrach from the Sustainability Management department at OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts welcomed the participants and introduced the topic.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden, Head of the Urban Water Management Department and Project Leader of the wasser^plus OWL project, then spoke to a group of international master’s students about current challenges and potential solutions in water management. He began by outlining the current situation and explained how water availability, consumption, and infrastructure are changing in the context of climate change.

The topic was brought to life through an interactive quiz, during which the students learned how much drinking water is consumed daily by toilet flushing alone. Prof. Felmeden then presented example projects for sustainable water management and demonstrated the construction of a dry separation toilet on-site.

The session concluded with an open discussion on the topic of water in Germany and in the participants’ countries of origin. The dialogue made it clear how much the issue of water concerns people worldwide and that sustainable solutions are urgently needed.

On January 14, 2025, students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering with a specialization in Water Resources visited the Chemical and Veterinary Testing Office of Ostwestfalen-Lippe (CVUA-OWL) as part of the “Water Supply” module.

Under the expert guidance of Dr. Wiebke Miehe, the participants gained interesting insights into the monitoring of physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters in drinking water and food. Modern analytical methods capable of detecting even the smallest contaminants were presented. The students were able to observe the MALDI-TOF and GC-MS/MS measurement procedures live during sample preparation and analysis. MALDI-TOF is a specialized mass spectrometry technique that uses a laser to enable the rapid identification of microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi. GC-MS/MS, on the other hand, is a highly precise analytical method capable of detecting chemical substances—such as residues of pollutants—even in minute quantities.

During the field trip, students gained practical insights into the work of laboratory experts who ensure a safe drinking water supply.

On January 23, a group of 11 students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts traveled to Braunschweig to learn about current developments and research projects in the field of water management. The itinerary included a tour of the Borsten fish pass at the Petri Weir, built in 2020, the “Wendenwehr” weir facility, and a visit to the Leichtweiß Institute (LWI) at the Technical University of Braunschweig. The trip was led by Dipl.-Ing. M.Sc. Heike Witte, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden, and Dipl.-Ing. M.Eng. Thomas Kaltenberg. They were supported by the former head of the faculty, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Adams, as well as two representatives from the Civil Engineering Faculty of the City of Detmold.

Click here for the press release

As part of the Sustainable Development of the OWL Cultural Landscape (nekO) project, a site visit was held on January 17 with the project partners in the municipality of Kalletal. The goal of the project is to promote biodiversity and water retention through the targeted planting of hedges, field margins, and retention areas on municipal land.
During the on-site inspection in Kalletal, the project partners have now identified the first areas.

Click here for the press release

On World Wetlands Day, we highlight the immense importance of these ecosystems for water quality, flood protection, and climate protection. Yet their numbers are dwindling—even in North Rhine-Westphalia. Retention soil filter systems (RBFA) can help supplement natural functions and protect our water bodies.

Read more in our article and at the OWL Water Conference on February 5, 2025, featuring Prof. Dr. Jörg Felmeden (TH OWL) and Achim Krampe (Detmold District Government), among others.

Click here for the article “Wetlands: Nature’s Sewage Treatment Plants”

On November 14, students from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the TH OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, with a specialization in water resources engineering, set off for Mülheim an der Ruhr. The aim of the field trip was to gain practical knowledge and apply the theoretical concepts learned in their degree program to real-world situations. The event was organized by the new lecturer, Rainer Gutknecht.
The students had the opportunity to visit the Institute for Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering (IWW), where they gained fascinating insights into research on drinking water in the laboratories and at the technical center.
Following the visit to the IWW, there was a presentation by RWW Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerksgesellschaft, which focused on water treatment using the Mülheim process. The students were not only able to gather valuable information but also tour the water treatment plant.
After a light refreshment break, the group proceeded to Aquarius, where they received an exclusive guided tour from Ms. Te Kloot.
The excursion offered the students the opportunity for specialization and the opportunity to establish valuable contacts within the industry. “Such practical experiences are indispensable for us to better understand the challenges of water management,” summarized Rainer Gutknecht.
Many thanks to Dr. Kristina Wencki (Managing Director of the IWW) and Dr. Franz-Josef Schulte (Managing Director of RWW) for making this excursion possible.

On October 31, the wasser^plus OWL project was a guest at the Hydrological Symposium in Minden—an important forum for professionals in the water management sector. This year, a group of students with a specialization in water resources within the Civil Engineering degree program at the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts was also invited to participate in the symposium. This opportunity allowed the students to gain valuable practical insights and to network with experts while still in the degree program. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Felmeden, Professor and Head of the Section of Urban Water Management at TH OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Project Leader of the wasser^plus OWL project, presented the network project and its objectives, and also spoke about the urgent shortage of skilled workers in the water management sector in Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Click
here for the press release