Pasts and Presents of Urban Socio-Hydrogeology: Groundwater Levels in Berlin, 1870–2020

Although it is self-evident that today’s groundwater issues have a history frames both problems and responses, these histories received scant attention in the socio-hydrogeological literature to date. This paper aims enrich field of socio-hydrogeology with novel, historical perspective on management whilst simultaneously demonstrating value water engaging groundwater. achieved by applying hydrogeological, socio-hydrogeological, methods an interdisciplinary collaborative research process while analysing case study urban over 150-year period. In German capital Berlin, local aquifers always been central its supply and, being close surface, made for intricate interactions between development levels. The describes oscillations levels across Berlin’s turbulent meanings attached them. It demonstrates viewing through socio-material lens paying greater subsurface resources. invisibility inscrutability associated should not discourage attention, but rather incite curiosity into this underexplored realm subterranean city, inspiring scholars practitioners well beyond confines hydrogeology.