The water tower was once nicknamed 'The White Giant' due to its prominent appearance in the landscape.
The elevator journey through the tower features 30 distinct interactive stations on various levels.
The museum is a designated stop on the Route of Industrial Heritage, which connects major industrial sites in the Ruhr area.
The interior renovation involved preserving the original brickwork while integrating modern steel and glass exhibition platforms.
The museum functions as a center for school-based environmental education in the region.
The Aquarius-Wassermuseum is housed within a historic, 50-meter-tall water tower originally constructed in 1892. It serves as an interactive educational center focused on water management, supply, and ecology. Visitors ascend the structure via a glass elevator, passing through multiple levels of exhibits. The museum utilizes multimedia displays and touch-screen kiosks to explain the Ruhr region's water history. A central feature is the 'Styrum-Ost' water tower's architecture, which remained in active industrial operation until 1982. It was subsequently converted into this museum and reopened in the mid-1990s. The exhibits cover global water challenges, biology, and the technical aspects of local water treatment. It remains a functioning site for the RWW (Rheinisch-Westfälische Wasserwerksgesellschaft) utility company.
The top observation deck offers a 360-degree view of Mülheim and the surrounding Ruhr valley.
Use the interactive chip card provided at the entrance to activate exhibits and track your personal 'water footprint' throughout the tour.
Dress in layers as temperatures inside the unheated tower structure can be cooler than the outside air, particularly on the upper levels.
The panoramic view from the top viewing platform is excellent for identifying surrounding industrial landmarks.
Do not rush through the lower levels, as the sequence of interactive exhibits is designed to be cumulative for understanding the final displays.
Closed on Mondays.
