The Ochtum is a river in Lower Saxony and Bremen, Germany. Roughly 26 km long, it is a left tributary of the Weser.

Course

The Ochtum begins in Lower Saxony only a few kilometres south of the city of Bremen near Weyhe at the confluence of the Süstedter Bach and the Hache in the lake known as the Kirchweyher See. The Ochtum forms its tailwater and heads in a northwesterly direction into the state of Bremen where it forms part of its border with Lower Saxony. The river flows through or passes the villages and suburbs of Kattenesch, Huchting and Strom, crosses the Park links der Weser and the Ochtumniederung bei Brokhuchting nature reserve. A second branch of the Ochtum – its original channel – flows north past Grolland and joins the main river in the nature reserve. The Ochtum passes Delmenhorst-Hasbergen and Lemwerder-Deichshausen and discharges into the Weser at river kilometre 12.85 between Lemwerder-Altenesch and Bremen-Seehausen near Unterweser.

History

Water quality

According to the 2000 water quality map by the state of Bremen the Ochtum is classified as Class II, moderately polluted, as far as the district of Bremen-Strom.

Economy

Importances as a transport route

The Ochtum is used by water sports clubs. The paths on the Ochtum dykes are popular with cyclists and inline skaters.