2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

GERMANY PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Germany
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$25,270
GDP per capita (PPP) US$27,610
Agriculture 1%
Industry 29%
Services 69%
Regulations and charging mechanisms
€7.15billion is invested annually in wastewater disposal in Germany, approximately 70% for the
construction and maintenance of sewage systems, and 30% for the construction and operation of
wastewater treatment plants. Despite the high connection percentage, an average annual investment
of €6.64 to 7.66 billion will be needed in future. The focal point of this investment will be in rural areas
and in upgrading wastewater treatment plants and sewage systems in the new federal states.
The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety is responsible for the
enaction of the Federal Water Act, the Wastewater Charges Act, the Washing and Cleansing Agents
Act and the Federal Nature Conservation Act. The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry
deal with water resources management projects in the rural economy. The Federal Ministry of Health
is responsible for drinking water supply and quality.
Effluents are charged for under the Wastewater Charges Act of 1976 (amended 1990). These
charges are based on Schadeinheit (SE), or unit harm. One SE unit is the equivalent discharge of a
human per year. The charges started at DM12 per SE in 1981 and were last revised at DM70 per SE
in 1994. In addition, most of the Länder have regulations on the payment of a water abstraction
charge of up to DM0.6 per m 3 . The revenue is used to support special environmental measures like
the economical use of water, to subsidise innovative techniques or to protect catchment areas, e.g.
by payments to farmers for changing land use patterns. The municipalities also have to pay this tax.
Population
Total (2003, million) 82.5
Total (2015, million) 80.6
Urban areas (2003) 88%
Urban areas (2015) 90%
In urban agglomerations (2015) 43%
Development of sewerage infrastructure
1975 1990 1995 1999
Tertiary 5.0% 29.9% 72.3% 83.1%
Secondary 64.7% 49.8% 12.2% 6.3%
Primary 10.2% 5.9% 4.1% 1.1%
Untreated N/A 3.8% 3.5% 4.8%
Unconnected N/A 10.4% 7.9% 4.7%
The sewerage network is basic in the former GDR, with 62.4% of the population receiving treatment
compared with 91.3% in Western Germany. Primary treatment accounts for 24.7% and 1.1%
respectively, secondary treatment 27.1% and 5.6% and tertiary treatment reaches 10.6% and 37.4%
respectively. Overall, 98 out of the former GDR’s 243 sewage treatment works comply with
COD/BOD standards.
Urban Services, Western Länder only
% Water 100%
% Sewerage 100%
% Sewage treated 99%
96 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006