Drinking water for Bratislava from Sihot Island in the Danube

In the wetlands to the west of Bratislava, the Danube branches to create a number of islands, depending on the current water level. The largest of them, known as Sihot Island in Slovakia, once got its German name Käsemacher from the local farmers who harvest cheese from the milk of the cows in the pastures. In contrast to this idyll, industrialization from the middle of the 19th century began to change the nearby city. Labourers came to be in need, people moved to this region, and the demand for piped water rose sharply. In 1870 the search began for subterranean drinking water sources in the north-western granite and limestone slopes, but these did not materialize. In 1882 the search extended directly to the Danube. The Käsemacherinsel (cheesemaker island), a good 5 km from the city centre, received particular attention. Under this island there was believed to be a gravel bed connecting to the Danube riverbed. Its ground water reservoir would be enough to provide the 48,000 inhabitants of Bratislava with natural water. These hopes were confirmed by sample drilling and water analyses. Under the leadership of Bernhard Salbach, the Prague-based enterprise C. Korte & Co. started building a drinking water network. Beginning in 1886, water from this source on Sihot Island was pumped via pipes and pump stations to the capital. Bratislava was soon able to boast of having one of Europe’s first modern water supply systems.