Living Waters was founded to stop polluting our waters and strengthen aquatic ecosystems. With innovative and inspiring measures, we want to achieve a change in awareness of water as a basis for life.
What makes us unique as a non-profit organization: We make water rescue very concrete, as we develop products and environmental solutions together with partners that bring visible and sustainable environmental benefits to local communities.
We support all measures with effective, broadly effective communication that raises awareness and triggers a change in behavior.
With campaigns for families, school classes and companies, we create awareness of how important clean water is for all of us and how each individual can contribute to it.
Our water purification products — plant islands, trash traps, multifloat — are made from plastic waste and recycled materials and are recyclable. The recycling cycle is closed.
The roots of plants filter toxins from the water and provide fish with a habitat. Solar modules swirl vital oxygen into the water and thus prevent algae growth.
had the idea for Living Waters. He has been closely associated with Marina Düsseldorf for almost 50 years. Even living on water and from water sports, he became increasingly aware of how threatened the ecological balance of rivers and oceans was.
Together with partners in various countries, he began to develop practicable measures and products to secure biological diversity, make ports climate-resilient and innovatively solve the impending water crisis. He is an expert in the construction of floating facilities and is experienced in the development of technical and nature-based environmental protection measures.
I live on a floating pontoon in Marina Düsseldorf. Every look out of the window and every step outside the door shows me the state of the Rhine: If there is high or low water, the harmful blue-green algae multiplies in hot summers and deprives the fish of oxygen to breathe, or does heavy rain flush objects and plastic waste into the harbor basin, which sink there.
In recent years, I've often had cause for concern. Especially because of the blue-green algae, but also because of the waste. In addition, an investigation of port water showed that it is heavily polluted with chemicals, fertilizers, microplastics and much more. Although I live on water, I can't go swimming and water my vegetables with Rhine water without hesitation. Another check revealed: The drinking water is also not okay. It contains too much nitrate and — according to a BUND study — the barely degradable chemical PFAS.
It was clear to me that if I wanted to change that, I would have to take action myself. After some thought, the idea for Living Waters was born. My goal: clean water and thus a better quality of life for everyone.
