Fischerweg Water Main Renewal
1934-era drinking water pipe running 820 metres from Hardturmstrasse to the Hardhof groundwater plant is being replaced.
Beneath the Fischerweg in Kreis 5, one of the city's main drinking water pipes has been doing its job since 1934. That's about to change. The City of Zürich has approved CHF 8 million to replace the aging main, with construction running from now until the end of 2026.
The pipe runs 820 metres from Hardturmstrasse 120 to the Hardhof groundwater plant — a critical stretch of infrastructure sitting directly within the groundwater protection zone. Alongside the main pipe itself, three valve shafts and associated drainage connections will also be renewed.
The work comes with some local disruption. Seven trees along the Fischerweg will need to be felled to accommodate the tight construction conditions. Cyclists and pedestrians who normally use the path between Hardturmstrasse 120 and Hardhof will be rerouted onto Hardturmstrasse in stages throughout the build.
It's not a glamorous project, but it's the kind of thing that keeps a city running. A pipe laid in 1934 has had a good run — at 92 years old, replacing it before it fails is considerably cheaper than dealing with the alternative.
