Water Transfer Workshop

In cooperation with

Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan

Head of Research Group

Michael Schmidt

Research Associate

Save the Date: 5th Hof

Water Symposium on 29 & 30 September 2026

Make a note of the dates for the 5th Hof Water Symposium now!

It will take place on 29 September 2026 (get-together from 5.00 pm) and on 30 September 2026 (Water Symposium from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm) at Hof University of Applied Sciences.

You can already look forward to a programme centred on the theme ‘Climate adaptation in rural areas – are sponge landscapes the answer?’

Further information on the schedule, programme and registration will follow.

Make the most of the symposium to exchange expertise, network and develop new project ideas. We particularly invite representatives from local authorities, water authorities, forestry and agriculture, landscaping, urban development, planning consultancies, the water management sector, and anyone else interested in a climate-resilient future for water.

We look forward to your participation.

9.00 – Welcome

9.15 – Presentation of the ‘hoferLand.digital’ project
9.30 – Keynote speeches
- BlueGreen City Coaching – Implementation of blue-green infrastructure in smaller German cities (Ganbaatar Khurelbaatar, UFZ Leipzig)
- Modular system for water-management-optimised, climate-resilient, multifunctional land use (Prof. Dr Andreas Weiß, Coburg University of Applied Sciences)
10.30 – Coffee break
11:00 – Presentation of interim results from the Water Transfer Workshop
11:45 – Updates from the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems
12:30 – Lunch break
13:30 – World Café on the Hofer Land ‘sponge region’
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Local challenges
14:45 – Coffee break
15:15 – Panel discussion: Findings from the World Café and the Water Transfer Workshop
16:00 – Reflection on the day, outlook and closing remarks
from 16:30 – Closing event and networking

Would you like to take part in the 5th Hof Water Symposium?

Online registration – Hof University of Applied Sciences

Warm regards from Hof

Prof. Günter Müller-Czygan (Head of Institute)

Michael Schmidt (Research Assistant, Organiser) and the entire inwa team

Tel: +49 9281 409 – 5149 (Michael Schmidt)
Email: wasser-symposium@hof-university.de

Alfons-Goppel-Platz 1, 95028 Hof

https://inwa.hof-university.de/

Background

The Transferwerkstatt Wasser hoferLand.digital is a sub-project of the Smart City model project of the Hof district, which uses digital technologies as a targeted tool to make water-related climate change challenges manageable at a regional level and to sustainably improve the living conditions of the population. Anchored in topic area C "Digital H2O Management" of hoferLand.digital, the sub-project addresses all 27 municipalities in the district and sees itself as a bridge between research, municipal practice, and digitally supported climate adaptation.

Project Goal

The central methodological foundation is the multi-level analysis developed by Hof University of Applied Sciences, which is used in workshops with the 27 municipalities of the Hof district to identify the current task situation, existing plans, and possible sponge measures and "anyway potentials". The results are digitised, evaluated and prioritised using a web-based tool. A meta-analysis identifies cross-municipal interfaces, synergies, and measure potentials for joint projects.

A structured transfer of results beyond the district is part of the funding mandate: all analyses, tools, data structures, and recommendations for action are reviewed for transferability, compared with existing guidelines on sponge city planning and training curricula (including "The Path to the Sponge City"; "Specialist Engineer Digitalisation Water Management") and documented.

The Transferwerkstatt Wasser combines applied research, digital innovation, and municipal action into a laboratory space in which data-based climate adaptation is scientifically evaluated and water-related questions are practically tested and regionally anchored.

Fundamental Analysis of (Water-Related) Climate Resilience Measures

How does a climate-resilient municipality emerge? – The analysis phase explained clearly

Before municipalities can implement effective sponge-making measures, they need to understand where their biggest challenges lie. Many cities and towns report struggling to grasp the increasing complexity of climate change. The analysis begins where laws, extreme weather events, limited human resources, and differing citizen expectations clash.

Hof University of Applied Sciences uses multilevel analysis for this purpose, a modern tool that helps to make the big picture visible. Four levels of analysis are used to examine how planned measures are interconnected and what impact they have on everyday municipal life. This reveals not only obstacles but also synergies that can save time and money.

The process begins with initial pilot municipalities and is closely aligned with ongoing local projects. This leads to a practical, structured, and understandable presentation of the current situation, paving the way for a water-sensitive, climate-resilient community.

Workshop Process

Together with the municipalities, a clearly structured path to greater climate resilience is developed.

The Transferwerkstatt works with municipalities in a clearly structured workshop process.

In the first workshop (half day), a joint aerial-image-based stocktaking is carried out. Central water topics, possible sponge measures, and "anyway potentials" are identified — measures that are already planned and can ideally be combined with climate-resilient solutions. All results are subsequently recorded digitally.

In the second workshop (2–3 hours), the analysis results are discussed with the respective municipality. Building on this, a concrete action plan is created, prioritised, and supplemented by a review of potential funding opportunities. Each municipality thus receives a practical and realisable roadmap for action.

Practical Example: "Anyway Potential" using the Example of Grundschule Schauenstein

The project demonstrates how effective it is to combine existing municipal projects with climate-resilient measures. A clear example is the sports hall in Schauenstein: as part of a renovation project that was planned anyway, a modern green roof ("Purple Roof") was integrated.

This roof stores rainwater, promotes evaporation, and can provide water in a targeted manner during dry periods. At the same time, it relieves the sewage system and enables digital storage management. The installation also opens up educational opportunities, as pupils can experience the technology directly on site.

The example clearly shows the potential of measures that are being implemented anyway: "Make what is being done anyway fit for the future."

District-Wide Data Platform for Water Needs.

A digital water balance for all 27 municipalities in the Hof district.

The new data platform makes water needs and available resources centrally visible for the first time. It links local sensors, groundwater levels, precipitation data, consumption figures, and forecasts. This integrated view makes water surpluses and bottlenecks transparently visible.

The platform is an important building block for the future viability of the region and helps municipalities to develop secure and sustainable water supply strategies, especially during dry periods.

Infiltration Water Analyses

Infiltration Water Analyses: Making a Hidden Problem Visible

Many municipalities face the challenge that water enters the sewage system in places where it should not be. Infiltration water — such as groundwater, spring water, or surface water — enters through leaking pipes and leads to dilution of the wastewater. The consequences are significant: sewage treatment plants work less efficiently, capacities are unnecessarily stressed, the biological treatment performance decreases, and operating costs rise. In addition, groundwater lowering and watercourse pollution from overflows can occur.

To address this problem, systematic infiltration water analyses are carried out in all 27 municipalities of the Hof district. Both problem areas and entry points are recorded and assessed. All results feed into a central database in which municipalities can learn from each other and develop joint solutions.

The structured approach makes it possible to identify cost-saving measures and implement them uniformly. These synergies allow renovation processes to be made more efficient. At the same time, a standard template is developed that also includes guidance on funding opportunities. This gives municipalities a solid basis for stabilising their wastewater systems in the long term and better managing climate challenges.

Water-Related Soil Characteristics

A look beneath the surface – with modern IoT sensor networks.

To better understand the water balance in forest and agricultural areas, the installation of a digital sensor network is being prepared to continuously measure soil moisture, temperature, conductivity, and pH values. These data are supplemented by drone and satellite images.

By integrating into the district's LoRaWAN network, a precise picture of soil behaviour is created. This knowledge is crucial for sustainable water supply, plant development, and climate adaptation.

Sponge Region Data Platform

Digital data platform for the sponge region – making knowledge visible and usable

The digital platform bundles knowledge on sponge measures in a central location. It provides best-practice examples, solution approaches, and data from municipal analyses in a clear format. The basis is the "Digital Lotse Wasser" platform, which is being further developed for the Hof district.

After testing in pilot municipalities, it will be integrated into the district's urban data platform. All content is available open source so that municipalities can work transparently, collaboratively, and in a future-oriented manner.

A cooperation with inwa?

We look forward to your inquiry.

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