The Blue Pipes of Berlin

At various points around Berlin you can see blue pipes (and occasionally pink pipes) heading along streets. I have never seen anything like that in any other city, and was intrigued to find out more.

Berlin was built on a swamp, and when construction work is being done, water is a big problem. It needs to be pumped away, so the construction company installs a pipeline.

This image has a section that is disconnected from the rest. Left over from an earlier installation?



The pipes are about 10 cm in diameter, and connected with bolted flanges so can presumably be readily assembled and disassembled. It is supported on posts of similar pipes, set into blocks on concrete, with loose fitting at the top that might support two or even three pipes at a time. the variation is height is probably just for negotiating strange angles, but might also help with expansion and contraction.

Here you can see where it enters the water, briefly painted yellow.




The arrangement in the water may be designed to reduce turbulence. I guess the pump is at the construction.

There was more than one around the city. Here is another as it drains into the canal.




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