Due to the increasing energy requirements of mining in the Freiberg mining area, the bringing of water from the surrounding area was considered as early as the 16th century, but was not implemented until the late 19th century.
Due to the increasing energy requirements of mining in the Freiberg area, the bringing of water from the areas of Mittelsaida, Haselbach, Dörnthal, Pfaffroda, Ullersdorf and later also from the Flöha river was already being considered in the 16th century. In addition to the construction of the Obersaida artificial ditch, this project was also pursued through the construction of the new Dörnthal artificial ditch from Obersaida to Dörnthal and the creation of a mine pond at Dörnthal. In 1787 the sovereign at that time, Elector Friedrich August III. the construction of a new mine pond in the Dörnthal area and the acquisition of the necessary land. At 18.2 m, the Dörnthaler Teich has the highest barrier structure of the artificial ponds of the Revierwasserlaufanstalt. The length of the crest of the dam is 300 m and the width of the crest is 13.3 m. The raw water obtained from the Rauschenbach dam is temporarily stored in the artificial pond. It reaches the dam via the district watercourse. From here, it is released as needed into the artificial ditch in the direction of Großhartmannsdorf or into the Haselbach, which flows into the Saidenbach dam.