Lichtenberg (dpa/sn) – After almost 50 years in operation, the Lichtenberg dam in the Eastern Ore Mountains will be made fit for the coming decades in the coming years. So far, the costs of the renovation are estimated at 30 million euros, said the managing director of the state dam administration, Eckehard Bielitz, on Friday. Tenders are scheduled for next year and construction is scheduled to begin in May 2024. The work will last until the end of 2026.
According to the information, around 200,000 people in the greater Freiberg area are supplied with drinking water from the dam. According to the information, a replacement must be secured before construction work can begin. This is to be done via the Rauschenbach dam. In addition, less water is already released into the Flöha there in order to build up a supply of up to 3 million cubic meters. The Lichtenberg dam then has to be completely emptied for the renovation. This should happen by the end of 2023.
During the entire construction period, the dam is to be retained for flood protection if necessary. For this purpose, the dam will be kept operational, it said. In the event of larger floods, the construction site can be flooded and the dam dammed.
The Lichtenberg dam south of Freiberg was put into operation in 1975. It is fed by the Gimmlitz – a tributary of the Freiberger Mulde – and is mainly used for drinking water supply. For this purpose, raw water is taken and treated in the Lichtenberg and Freiberg waterworks. A special feature is that the tower for taking the water is located in the middle of the reservoir. It also serves as an overflow in the event of a flood.