Service Eaux and Service Canalisation: 2024 review and major projects 

Service Canalisation 

The City of Luxembourg's Service Canalisation (Sewer Department) is tasked with managing the city's sewer network (local networks, trunk sewers, retention basins and pumping stations) and wastewater treatment plant, as well as carrying out maintenance operations on waterways in Luxembourg City, and implementing measures to prevent the risk of flooding and mitigate damage caused by flooding. Its budget allocation for 2024 was €57 million. Of the 88 staff employed in the Service Canalisation, 41 work in the maintenance and intervention department, 26 at the Beggen wastewater treatment plant, and 21 in the technical and administrative office. To continue to fulfil its remit effectively, the Service Canalisation began constructing a new building on the site of the former Bonnevoie wastewater treatment plant in 2024, to house its maintenance and intervention department. 

At the end of 2024, Luxembourg City's sewer network was 704 km long. In total, 350 km of network pipes were cleaned, and 22,722 siphons and 4,144 culverts emptied. To ensure the proper disposal of wastewater, the Service Canalisation has undertaken the systematic and strategic renovation and refurbishment of old or damaged sections of the sewer network. It should be noted that water mains are renovated – using the pipe-lining technique – only if their structural condition is sound, and if their hydraulic capacity will remain sufficient. On the other hand, if the mains are in poor condition, or if their hydraulic capacity is deficient, they are replaced. Accordingly, 395 m of sewer lines and 101 connections were renovated, and 3,640 m of water mains were completely replaced. 

With a budget allocation of some €37.7 million, the City of Luxembourg's Service Eaux (Water Department) manages the installation, operation and maintenance of the city's drinking-water infrastructure, and water quality control. Of the 88 employees at the Service Eaux, 2 are assigned to the administrative office, 24 to operations and maintenance, 14 to IT and remote transmission, 22 to quality and maintenance, 8 to planning and 18 to customer service and supply.

Quantitative developments in City-owned springs

For the water year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), the quantitative position was much better than the previous year. Precipitation necessary for groundwater recharge corresponds to the proportion of total precipitation that infiltrates directly through the Luxembourg sandstone to the groundwater table, once the soil has reached water saturation. In 2024, weather conditions were particularly favourable to groundwater recharge, thanks to an overall surplus of precipitation. The accumulation of infiltrating precipitation led to a significant increase in flows for all of Luxembourg City's springs, meaning the situation switched from well below to well above normal by the end of this hydrological cycle.