Patron Marc Buchholz on the MWA

The On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Mülheim Water Award, patron, Mülheim’s Lord Mayor Marc Buchholz, had this to say:

Mülheim and water – how does that go together for you?

Buchholz: They go together very well. The topic of water is very important for the city of Mülheim an der Ruhr – for various reasons.

First of all, it is the geographical location on the Ruhr, an important waterway for the region, which crosses the city area over a length of 14 kilometres and significantly shapes the landscape and the cityscape of Mülheim an der Ruhr. The water of the Ruhr is an important natural resource and is used for various purposes, from drinking water supply to industry and leisure activities. Water therefore also plays a decisive role in the quality of life of people in Mülheim.

Historically, water played a decisive role in Mülheim’s economic development. Numerous commercial enterprises settled here, utilising water as a resource and making it an important factor. Time and again, modern, innovative companies have established themselves in the water industry – and they have managed to influence developments far beyond the city limits and the region, making Mülheim an important centre for the water industry. This not only contributes to the economic development of the city, but also secures jobs and promotes further innovation.

Overall, the topic of water is therefore of great importance for Mülheim an der Ruhr in economic, ecological and social terms. It characterises the city’s identity and is an important factor for its sustainable development.

How does the city benefit from the Mülheim Water Award?

Buchholz: The Mülheim Water Award brings numerous benefits to the city. It is part of a catalogue of measures that aims to make Mülheim even better known as a centre of water expertise throughout Germany and, above all, internationally, and to further strengthen the interest of science and research in water management.

In addition, Mülheim an der Ruhr is home to a number of high-performance companies of various sizes and sectors that make a significant contribution to research and development. The close links between academic research and business practice promote innovation and the development of new technologies.

This prize has been awarded since 2006 and we are proud that the city name ‘Mülheim’ is reflected in the name of the award. We are therefore happy to support the continued awarding of this prize.

Wie stehen Sie persönlich zum Mülheim Water Award ein?

Buchholz: When I was asked as Lord Mayor of the city of Mülheim an der Ruhr whether I could imagine taking over the patronage from my predecessor, I didn’t have to think long and accepted straight away.

I see the prize as motivation to take a close look at realisable concepts in the field of water research. That’s why the focus is on solutions that have already been successfully realised. A look at the past nine awards since 2006 clearly shows the high degree of innovation and the strong practical relevance of the award-winning projects, even without specialised water knowledge. The jury certainly has no easy task in selecting the winning projects from the large number of applications submitted.

I am very much looking forward to the new award, now in its tenth year, and the exciting projects. It is a special honour for me to be the patron of the Mülheim Water Award.