The exact knowledge of the current ground-water levels, and hence also of groundwater stocks, is imperative for the State of Berlin, since 100% of the drinking-water supply (approx. 212 million m3 in 2005) is obtained from groundwater. This groundwater is pumped at nine waterworks, almost entirely from the city’s own area. Only the Stolpe Waterworks on the northern outskirts obtain water from Brandenburg, but also supply Berlin (Fig. 1).
Groundwater Levels of the Main Aquifer and Panke Valley Aquifer 2006

Fig. 1: Location of the nine waterworks supplying Berlin with drinking-water in May 2006
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 2: Phenomenology of Underground Water
Image: from Hölting 1996

Fig. 3: Hydrogeological Terms
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 4a: Groundwater infiltrates into bodies of water
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 4b: Bank-filtered water caused by flood water: bodies of water infiltrate into groundwater
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 4c: Bank-filtered water caused by discharge of groundwater: caused by the lowering of the groundwater by wells, bodies of water infiltrate into groundwater
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 5: Geological Outline Map of Berlin
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin

Fig. 6: Hydrogeological Cross-Section of Berlin
Image: from Limberg, 2003

Fig. 7 The unconfined Panke Valley aquifer (aquifer 1) in the northwest of Berlin is situated above the main aquifer (aquifer 2), that is confined in this area
Image: Umweltatlas Berlin