Demolition of part of the old waterworks in Karlovy Vary has begun

A leisure and rest area intended for all generations is to be created in the locality, which would follow on from the existing one in the meander of the Ohře river.

“We want to gradually revitalize the former waterworks,” said Karlovy Vary Deputy Mayor Miroslav Vaněk (KVC). “We would all like to see a beautiful campus grow here within a year and everything to be finished within a year,” he continued. “But it doesn’t work that way, because one thing is technical possibilities, the second is planning and the third is finance,” explained Vaněk, adding that the city does not have a comprehensive plan at the moment, how exactly the reconstruction will proceed and at what financial cost.

The site, which has been out of operation as a water plant for forty years, is to be transformed gradually. As early as May, the public should have the opportunity to take a guided tour of the unique ventilated underground reservoirs, where the water was settled, filtered and cleaned. Residents are then expected to come up with ideas on how to use the spaces.

Demolition of the former Rozvadov customs house has begun

Economy

According to Vaňek, a gallery could be created in one of the filters, for example, and the space above the tanks should serve as a pump track area. After all, cyclists could even find a skate park on the site of the former waterworks.

Homeless people sought asylum there

Objects that are in poor technical condition will go to the ground. Homeless people were seeking asylum there and threatened to collapse on them. The part of the waterworks, which was built in the last century, served as a pumping station, is in good technical condition. It stands closest to the meander area, out of the reach of residential buildings, so it seems like a possible place for a night dance club. They are currently in the commercial-administrative center, where residents complain about them because of the noise.

According to the first study, glass offices, for example shared ones, could be created in one of the buildings to be preserved. There should also be a cafe. “It’s terribly raw, but the first drawings looked very nice and it connected with the relaxation area,” said Vaněk regarding the proposals, according to which drawing subsidies will probably be problematic. “Brownfield subsidies can only be used for projects where it is impossible to do nothing for ten years. That doesn’t suit us, because we don’t want to turn it into a park,” stated Vaněk.

Regional historian Jindřich Nový watched the demolition of the former gas station before noon on Tuesday. “Historically, an eleven-meter-wide drive led to the gas station, which was built in the century before last on the site of the original mill, which started at the Tuhnice weir on the Ohři river,” he described. The water turned the turbines that drove the mechanical piston pumps of the water.

“Originally, water was brought here by gravity aqueduct from springs in the nearby spa forests, but its quantity gradually ceased to be sufficient,” he added, adding that filter tanks were created in 1882 with the water supply from Ohře.

Photo: Rudolf Voleman, Law