It is well known that in Germany, football matches and beer go hand in hand. Whether at home or in the taverns on the streets, it is common to drink beer while watching a match. During halftime, water consumption significantly increases. The more exciting the match, the higher the contrast, as evidenced by the water usage data in Berlin.
Currently, the water consumption of Berliners can indicate whether the European Cup football match is in full swing. The “flush analysis” at Berlin water plants shows that during the match between the German team and the Hungarian team, water usage surged with the sound of the halftime whistle. Shortly after the end of the match, a similar situation was observed. In both cases, water consumption was more than 40% higher than during the match, indicating that everyone rushed to the bathroom at the same time.
Since 2012, the German water company has been releasing “flush analysis” reports for important football matches or championships. A spokesperson for the water company stated, “Such curves now only appear at football stadiums; in the past decades, they also applied to crime scenes or TV shows like ‘Lindenstrasse,’ but that has become history.” “Nevertheless, during major events, our colleagues in the control room watch TV as required by business, so that they can react quickly when necessary and closely monitor the water pumps and their performance.”
So, from the perspective of water consumption in Germany, which match stands out as the most exciting in history? The answer lies in the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, where the water flushing volume in German toilets reached its peak during halftime, almost three times higher than during the match between Germany and Hungary.