The 1-week visit schedule program was focused on multiple issues especially regarding water: Generation of drinkable water, depuration of waste waters, building and repair of waterways, metropolitan sewer system networks, revitalization of river countrysides.
Pyongyang’s water channel network dates back to the '50s and '60s of last century. At present, it is already scarce to be efficient in the capital city; consequently, it needs to be expanded and sanitized. Therefore, the experts wanted to know how the water channeling is build in the German municipalities, as well as the techniques employed to verify faults and conduct repairs. During the visit to the company operating the water channeling in Friedrichshain, Ralf Jannek, head of one of these companies, presented the origin, structure, and composition of the water channel network in Berlin. The advantages of the two ways of construction –combined or separate sewer system– as well as the question raised about the way the sewer network may be expanded in a separate system, such as the one existing in Pyongyang, were discussed.
The municipal supply of drinkable water, electricity, gas, and urban transportation systems to the citizenry raise new questions, particularly when it comes to funding issues. During his speech, the senior management director, Mr. Dusch, treasurer of Munich, presented the funding sources of this city. The budget for the city amounts 4.7 billion Euros; two thirds come from the most significant taxes of the municipality, the trade income tax and (proportionally) the income tax. Moreover, there are other taxes and rates. It was important for the visitors to know that the city council has autonomous funding sources available, and that is able to collect its own taxes. But it was also relevant that the political representatives of the municipality –the council and the mayor– are chosen through democratic elections. The senior legal director, Dr. Glaser, a member of Munich’s directorate, explained the procedures and development of the municipal elections held two days before in Bavaria.
In the German municipalities, water supply and waste waters handling are under public control. However, most of the maintenance and repair jobs are transferred to private companies. Regarding other tasks, for example, power supply, it has been very successful to delegate them to private companies. The motto prevailing in the municipal tasks organization is ’private public partnership’. A concept through which the city council delegates tasks that a private company is better qualified to provide in a more effective and cost-efficient manner. The way it actually works was depicted through a visit to Remondis company. The company leads the recycling industry in the German market; it works onsite worldwide in partnership with cities in 480 locations around the most diverse tasks regarding waste treatment, recycling, and waste waters sanitation. The terms are contractually set forth with each city council. In the delegation members’ opinion, it was a partnership approach worthy of being considered in the future to deal with tasks regarding how to handle the waste disposal in Pyongyang.
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