Norfbach

BW

The Norfbach (also: Norf ) is a tributary of the Erft. The water flows in North Rhine -Westphalia. The name probably comes from " Nor Apa ", which means as much as " water flowing over stone ," and has in the course of time about " Norpe " designed to " Norf ".

River

The " source " of the Norfbachs located in appointing at Rommerskirchen to about 80 meters above the sea level. There he is fed artificially near a horse from the homestead Gillbach, which itself is fed by the cooling water of power plant Niederaußem. Its original headwaters, the marshes around the Tannenbusch and the villages Rosellerheide, Rosellen and Norf were drained because the water table lowering in the context of the open coal mine Rhine brown.

The Norfbach flows from its source location today Anstel from west of the pine woods passing through the villages Ückerath, Rosellerheide, Rosellen, All Saints and Norf. After crossing the Neuss district Erfttal the Norfbach opens in Erftstraße which opens itself again about two kilometers further into the Rhine.

Other tributaries of the Norfbaches are mainly ditches, storm water derived from the fields. These so-called self-leveling dry in the summer of mostly.

History

The overall level of the river is part of the former Rhine bed and therefore a very fertile area. Due to the very high water table a wide area was marshy and partly the malaria was widespread. There were very many small rivulets and streams that gathered from the marshes, which resulted in the Norfbach. The largest of these were probably the cattle ditch and the Schwarzenbach. Throughout history, the marshes were largely drained and secured the larger streams. Also present lakes were connected with overflow channels to the Norfbach to use it in flood cases as a drain can.

There was also the name of the Norfen. This means that four Norfadern meant: The first Norf rises near Stommeln, the second comes from the Butzheimer Broich, the third Norf arises in the Höveler farms and the fourth runs at Broich, Gohr and below the fall line of the middle terrace along.

With the start of construction work days, the water table fell so strong that almost all sources disappeared and biodiversity in the areas around the Tannenbusch and Knechtstedener Busch decreased tremendously. Even the Norfbach dried up almost completely and represented a very strong odor as still partially raw sewage were discharged into it.

Current Situation

Currently, RWE Power AG ( formerly Rhein Braun AG ) required to artificially introduce a certain amount of water in the Norfbach. The irrigation not only the Norfbaches but also other wetlands in the area led to a significant increase of biodiversity in the irrigated areas. Partial few irrigations were reinstated also due to complaints from neighbors.