"Gießkannenheld:innen" take over responsibility for urban trees and plants and water the greenery in the dry summer month. In cooperation with TU Dresden, the Gießkannenheld:innen initiative - a joint project of Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH and network Dresden gießt - put a cistern at the StuRa Baracke behind the Auditorium Center into operation on Arbor Day, April 25. This marks the start of a campaign with which Gießkannenheld:innen Dresden will install further water storage tanks at suitable locations over the course of the year, making it easier for residents to water trees in the city.

Professor Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector University Culture at TU Dresden, is enthusiastic about this initiative: "I am very pleased that we are inaugurating the first cistern for trees on the TU Dresden campus today with the Gießkannenheld:innen Dresden campaign. As a University of Excellence and a university with societal responsibility, we want to set an example. The campus greenery, especially the trees, are of great importance for the quality of life on our campus and the urban environment. The rainwater storage tank at this central location on the main campus is an eye-catcher that draws attention to the issue of the climate crisis, but also offers the opportunity to become active together."

Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH,  made the implementation of the initiative in Dresden possible in the first place by providing the material and supporting the logistics. Gunda Röstel, Commercial Director of Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH, explains: "We launched the Gießkannenheld:innen initiative for Dresden because we liked the idea. It is already established in Essen, Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen and Castrop-Rauxel. It fits in perfectly with our various efforts to deal with climate change, especially with regard to increasing heavy rainfall and drought. Gießkannenheld:innen Dresden can make an important contribution to transforming Dresden into a sponge city. We receive 10,000 visitors a year at the Kaditz sewage treatment plant. With this project, we can take our environmental education further into urban society."

The network Dresden gießt ("Dresden waters") contributes its many years of experience with large and sustainable irrigation campaigns and advises on the selection of locations for water reservoirs, accompanies the installation of containers, provides tips on effective irrigation and supports the establishment of watering initiatives. Peter Skyba describes the aim of the network as follows: "Irrigation naturally helps trees to cope with the stresses of the climate crisis in the first instance. A second aspect should not be underestimated: The watering campaigns bring residents together, they look after the trees in their city together and thus make public space a matter for the citizens. This civic engagement is currently a valuable contribution not only for the protection of urban greenery and the preservation of a good environment for life in the city, but also a building block for the stability of our diverse society."

On the TU Dresden campus, the call for joint watering campaigns will be made via the TU Dresden Green Office and in coordination with the Sustainable Campus Coordinator. However, the water storage tank is of course available to anyone who would like to supply the campus greenery with water during the dry summer months.

Contact at TU Dresden

Ulrike Seiler, Directorate Facility Management
Sustainable Campus Coordinator
Phone +49 351 463-33059

Contact to the initiative

Dr. Peter Skyba, Dresden gießt & Gießkannenheld:innen Dresden | 0179 3210214
Torsten Fiedler, Press Officer Stadtentwässerung Dresden GmbH | 0174 1739 864