Press releases

When it gets hot in the city, cooling off is essential: That’s why the city of Aachen is launching the pilot project “Cooling Down Aachen” in the coming days for August and September. Specifically, on days for which the German Weather Service has issued a warning of severe or extreme heat stress —except on weekends—so-called spray hoses will be set up in the market squares of Aachen-Brand and Aachen-Haaren, as well as at Elsassplatz, to spray fine jets of water, creating a sort of rain. “In addition to its hot springs, the city is now making a name for itself with a ‘cold spring’ as well. It’s not a grand gesture, just a light mist—but that’s exactly how you can tell whether a city is thinking about the people who have to live with the effects of climate change,” says Aachen’s Mayor Dr. Michael Ziemons, expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative.

In general, the hoses are scheduled to provide cooling relief this summer Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If a heat wave coincides with one of the market days, the schedule will be adjusted and the hoses will be set up around 3:00 p.m. On-site, teams from Aachen’s municipal services will set up and maintain the hoses. “Having a hose in place on a hot day where people gather sounds simple. It isn’t—behind the scenes are colleagues who’ve coordinated permits, piping, and schedules under time pressure. Thank you for making this possible for all of us,” says Ziemons, praising everyone involved in this last-minute project.

The project is being carried out in cooperation with STAWAG and Regionetz. “We are very pleased to support the ‘Cool Down Aachen’ project because it directly benefits people on hot days and, at the same time, makes an important contribution to climate adaptation in our city. As a water supplier, we ensure that the people of Aachen have access to safe drinking water at all times. This water comes primarily from the reservoirs in the Northern Eifel and, to a lesser extent, from regional groundwater sources. Its quality is continuously monitored and meets the strict requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance,” explains Wilfried Ullrich, CEO of STAWAG. The mayor adds: “This initiative is a meaningful step, though of course we must not forget climate protection itself—as we are pursuing it through the city’s Integrated Climate Protection Concept.”

Prior to the event, the hydrants designated for water withdrawal were subjected to additional inspections. As part of its internal monitoring program, the network operator arranged for standard microbiological drinking water tests to be conducted. All samples taken from the hydrants to which the hoses are connected meet the requirements of the Drinking Water Ordinance.

The event kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, August 13, and the day after tomorrow, Friday, August 14. After that, whenever the DWD issues a heat warning, the motto at the market in Aachen-Brand, Aachen-Haaren, and Elsassplatz will be: “Let’s go for a swim!”

The city will announce the specific dates and locations via press release and on its social media channels. Call Aachen at 0241 432-0 to ask questions about the project.