Fluctuating resources, rising demands
Ground water is one of the most valuable freshwater resources on our planet. It ensures the drinking water supply, enables agricultural irrigation, and is indispensable for industrial processes. At the same time, the underlying conditions are changing noticeably: longer and irregular dry periods are causing groundwater levels to fall, while water demand rises disproportionately during heat waves. Intake systems must therefore need not only to cover average demand, but also to be prepared for peak loads at any time.
Fluctuating groundwater levels also have a direct impact on delivery head, energy consumption, and the efficiency of wells - both seasonally and over many years. The challenges in extracting surface water from rivers, lakes and impounding reservoirs are also increasing. Water levels and raw water quality are subject to greater fluctuations, while inputs from agriculture, industry or heavy rainfall events significantly affect drinking water treatment.
At the same time, regulatory requirements are increasing as a result of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), Groundwater Directive, and Drinking Water Directive: withdrawal volumes, water quality, and ecological impacts must be traceably documented and controlled.
Today, energy security means being able to manage uncertainty - with technical precision, economic viability, and a sense of responsibility.
Secure the future of your water extraction
Work with us to develop a solution that combines stability, cost‑efficiency and long-term security of water supply.
Our solutions for raw water intake
The requirements for water extraction vary depending on the water source. We offer customised solutions for both groundwater and surface water.
Groundwater intake
Pumping flexibly. Supplying reliably. Acting responsibly.
Ground water is a hidden resource - seemingly constant, yet actually sensitive to climate change and growing demand. Fluctuating groundwater levels and increasing intake volumes now require more than traditional pumping technology.
We see groundwater intake as a holistic task. Our objective is clear: stable pump performance, even under changing conditions.
The focus is on high-performance borehole pumps such as the Wilo-Actun ZETOS for deep wells. They operate at a stable, optimal duty point even when water levels are fluctuating – reliably and energy-efficiently.
Your benefits at a glance:
- Reliable operation with varying water levels
- Sand-resistant versions for challenging conditions
- Durable materials for continuous operation
- Compact designs for deep-well installations
- High overall efficiency to reduce energy and operating costs
- Demand-based control of volume flow and pressure via frequency converters
- Transparent monitoring through integration into monitoring and control systems
At the same time, we go one step further. In view of increasing water scarcity, we support concepts for groundwater recharge using high-quality treated, membrane-filtered water from wastewater treatment plants, as well as decentralised solutions to close “small water cycles” through greywater utilisation and rainwater utilisation.
Combined with high-performance well and system technology, this creates a groundwater supply that not only works today, but also offers long-term prospects.
Surface water
Dynamic waters. Reliable systems.
Rivers, lakes and impounding reservoirs do not follow a fixed rhythm. Water levels fluctuate, while sediments and algae change water quality either seasonally or abruptly. Surface water calls for technology that works with this dynamic – not against it. We see surface water intake as an integrated overall system: from the intake structure and pumping station through to precise hydraulic design and integration into existing control and monitoring systems. The aim is stable pump performance, even under changing conditions.
Even before the actual pumping process begins, effective pre-treatment of the water protects the downstream plant equipment. The intake of surface water for drinking water production takes place in two treatment stages:
In the first stage, coarse screens such as multi-rake bar screens or grab bar screens are used to remove large particles from the surface water.
The second stage involves fine screening in the fine screen building, using filterscreens (from Wilo FSM) with high screen retention, as well as CenterFlow or DualFlow screens. Surface water is skimmed off and passed through perforated stainless steel filter baskets, which reliably retain dirt and solids. This ensures consistently high water quality and sustainably reduces pump wear.
Safe and efficient water delivery is ensured by high-performance split case pumps as well as long-coupled and close-coupled end suction pumps, which are specifically designed for high volume flows and optimised efficiency. Horizontally split housing designs enable a particularly maintenance-friendly designs and support long service life in continuous operation at waterworks and pumping stations.
Your benefits at a glance:
- High volume flows with optimised efficiency
- Reliable operation at varying water levels with robust hydraulics and controllable system operation
- Maintenance-friendly design featuring horizontally split housings
- Robust materials to handle sediment and suspended solids
- Standardised interfaces and external control options for easy integration into existing control and monitoring systems
- Suitable for demand-based adjustment of flow rate and pressure when using external speed-controlled drives
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Where structural conditions or fluctuating water levels require special solutions, vertical in-line, dry-installed or borehole pumps are used. Their compact design allows integration into pump chambers, confined structures or existing intake sites and ensures reliable pumping under varying suction heads.
The result is a surface water intake system that operates reliably even under extreme conditions and remains viable in the long term.
Water intake references: high-performance solutions for groundwater and surface water
Our references show how high-performance pumping solutions for groundwater and surface water reliably meet a wide range of water management tasks – from extraction and transfer through to stabilising water levels. At the same time, they provide long-term support for operational reliability and cost-effectiveness.
A sustainable water supply
Water supply in the United Kingdom
As part of an infrastructure project to modernise the UK’s water supply system, outdated deep well drinking water borehole pumps were replaced with high-performance solutions. The aim was to improve operational reliability and energy efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure a secure water supply in the long term in the face of a growing population and ageing infrastructure.
A total of 260 borehole pumps with an innovative CERAM coating were installed. This coating improves hydraulic efficiency and provides reliable protection against ochre deposits. As a result, the pump failure rate has fallen by 85 per cent.
The modernisation saves approximately 44 million kWh of energy annually, reduces CO₂ emissions by 39,700 tonnes, and lowers operating costs by around £10 million per year. With a delivery rate of 15,753 l/s, the project helps secure the drinking water supply for around 50 per cent of the UK population.
Products: Wilo-Actun ZETOS
Maximum efficiency in raw water intake
Wiener Neustadt Süd Waterworks, Austria
The primary task of the Wiener Neustadt waterworks is to supply the population of Wiener Neustadt with drinking water of the highest quality and in sufficient quantities, as well as to monitor and maintain the well fields and supply facilities.
The water supply comes exclusively from groundwater in the so‑called “Mitterndorf Basin”. This aquifer is one of the largest groundwater reservoirs in Europe and has been used by water utilities for drinking water production for decades.
The water pipeline network covers a total area of 61 km² and supplies around 40,000 residents via nearly 300 km of transmission and distribution pipelines. Wiener Neustadt waterworks extracts roughly 4 million m³ of drinking water per year from three well fields and a total of eight wells.
Products: Wilo-Actun ZETOS-K8, Wilo-Sub TWI, Wilo-Multivert
Deep wells for drinking water supply
Freiberg am Neckar, Germany
The city of Freiberg am Neckar secures its drinking water supply for residents via the “Hohes Gestad” deep well.
After the failure of an existing system, the pumping equipment was replaced with a highly efficient submersible pump – with tangible results: electricity consumption was reduced, operational reliability was significantly improved, and the need for staff call-outs to deal with faults was minimised.
The modernisation therefore not only improves energy efficiency but, above all, strengthens the municipality’s long-term security of supply. In this way, a reliable water supply is ensured for 16,500 people.
Products: Wilo-Actun ZETOS
Services and solutions for the entire lifecycle of your facility
Wilo supports you reliably in every project phase – from planning and design through to commissioning and maintenance. The goal is safe, efficient and predictable system operation.
Our offering at a glance:
- Support with planning and design (e.g., product selection, simulations, documentation)
- Commissioning and acceptance testing
- Maintenance, repair, and spare parts service
- Energy analyses
- Digital services for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance
- Training for operation and maintenance
With standardised and individually-tailored packages and digital tools, we create transparency around operating conditions, reduce unplanned downtime and ensure the long-term operation of water management infrastructure.
Safeguarding water. Enabling the future.
Water is the basis of life, a key factor in regional development and a resource for the future. Where water is reliably available, security, development and prospects emerge. Where it is lacking, regions come under pressure. The way we extract and provide water therefore shapes not only technical systems, but entire living environments.
We help to make water infrastructure resilient and high-performing. With solutions that create stability under dynamic conditions, we strengthen security of supply, enable economic development and safeguard quality of life. Because those who secure water responsibly lay the foundations for the future.
FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions About Raw Water Intake
What is the difference between groundwater and surface water intake?
Groundwater is extracted from underground aquifers via deep wells. It is often characterised by stable raw water parameters and consistent water quality, but requires careful hydrogeological site assessment. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes or impounding reservoirs and is subject to greater seasonal and climatic fluctuations. Here, variable water levels, sediment loads and changing water quality are central to the technical design of the intake.
How do dry periods and extreme weather conditions affect raw water intake?
Prolonged dry periods can permanently lower groundwater levels while at the same time increasing water demand. For surface water, droughts or heavy rainfall events lead to highly fluctuating water levels and altered raw water parameters. Intake systems therefore need to be sized flexibly, they must be controllable and designed for various delivery heads and capacity, so that security of supply is maintained even under dynamic conditions.
What role do water demand and dimensioning play?
Accurately determining current and future water demand is the foundation of any planning process. Pump capacity, the pipe network, storage facilities, and redundancy plans must be sized to reliably meet both average consumption and peak loads. A forward-looking design enhances cost-effectiveness and ensures long-term operational reliability.
What regulatory requirements must be followed during raw water intake?
Raw water intake is subject to water law permit procedures and regional environmental regulations. These include requirements from the Water Framework Directive, environmental compatibility specifications and, where applicable, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Intake volumes, water quality and ecological impacts must be regularly monitored, documented and evaluated.
How can energy consumption in raw water intake be optimised?
What is the significance of monitoring and digital systems?
When is it worthwhile to modernise existing intake systems?
Rising costs, frequent faults or changing hydrogeological conditions are clear indicators that action is needed. Retrofitting with modern pumping technology, intelligent control and optimised design can significantly improve operational reliability, resource protection and cost-effectiveness – without fully rebuilding the existing infrastructure.
Solutions along the water cycle
Our solutions cover the entire water cycle – from extraction and storage through responsible use to treatment and return to the natural environment. In this way, we ensure water quality and availability for current and future generations.
