Implementation of the Water Framework Directive and other ...

Wastewater treatment and WFD 1 st December 2005
implementation in CEE Danube countries Bratislava, Slovakia
The strictly proportional tariff is nowadays mostly used in Bavaria (and Germany).
Degressive tariffs are to be abolished (see article 9 WFD).
There exists no social element in German water tariffs. Sometimes a fixed invariable element
is added to the tariff system.
The wastewater charges in Bavaria are on average 1 – 2 EUR/m 3 , very seldom above 3 EUR/m 3 .
8.4 Economic and fiscal instruments
In Germany the following economic instruments are actually used efficiently:
• users charge above all for the use of groundwater (groundwater abstraction fees),
• wastewater charges,
• reduction of taxes,
• compensation payment to farmers in water protection zones.
The overall goal is to give incentives for a environmentally sound use of water to protect the
aquatic environment and to have money to support water protection measures.
���� User charges for water abstraction
In several German Federal States – not in Bavaria - charges for water abstraction are
obligatory. The lie between 5 cent/m 3 and 30 cent/m 3 in the different Federal States.
In Baden-Württemberg for instance these charges are partly used for the compensation
payment to farmers in water protection zones.
���� Wastewater charges
In Germany a wastewater charge is levied since 1981. Charges are to be paid for polluted
water and rain water. The obligation to pay lies with the discharger, that is the municipality or
the industry when discharging directly.
The wastewater charge is calculated to the unit of noxiousness multiplied with the specific
charge. The specific charge is now 35 EUR.
���� Reduction of taxes
A very efficient means practised since long in Germany is the reduction of taxes and above all
the increased reduction on goods serving for the protection of the environment. Goods are
classified as serving for the protection of the environment when they avoid, reduce or
eliminate:
• the production of waste water
• the damage caused by wastewater
• the water pollution caused by other substances than wastewater
• the air pollution
• the noise
• the refuse
In the year of the acquisition or the installation of such goods one may deduct 60% of the
investment from the receipt (profit) before taxes, in the next year 10% yearly.
9 CONCLUSIONS
In the field of waste water disposal the following key issues must be dealt with in future:
• Further improvement of surface water quality, particularly of small surface
waters in rural areas by
o Supplementing small waste water treatment plants
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