Object of the Month – January 2026

26.01.2026 14:13 Uhr

Ventilett Flush Cistern with Fan

This cast-iron flush cistern is on display in the permanent exhibition at the phanTECHNIKUM.

It combines a water-flush system with a fan that was intended to carry unpleasant toilet smells outside. This unusual yet practical invention was developed by the Ventilett Company in Hanover. The cistern was in use in Wismar’s historic old town until 1980. The modern toilet was developed in Great Britain in the 19th century. In Germany, the first toilets were installed in 1818 at Bad Homburg Palace and in 1861 at Ehrenburg Palace in Coburg. Their wider use depended on the construction of sewer systems.

Wismar’s first sewer system was built between 1868 and 1875. At that time, it was mainly used to remove wastewater and keep the streets clean; toilets were not yet connected. From 1903 onwards, so-called pail systems were used, in which toilet waste was collected in sealed containers. Construction of a water-based sewer system began in 1913 but was interrupted by the First World War. In 1931, the city of Wismar opened its first wastewater treatment plant at Koggenoor. It was replaced in 1955 by the Wendorf treatment plant, which is still in operation today.

Today, Wismar has a sewer network stretching over 321 kilometres, with some sections more than 100 years old. On dry days, around 9,000 cubic metres of wastewater are produced; on rainy days, this can rise to up to 20,000 cubic metres. About 10,000 cubic metres of treated water are discharged into the Baltic Sea every day.