Charge for water abstraction Billing

Depending on the federal state, you have to pay a fee for water withdrawals, surface extraction, surface discharge or discharge. This can be offset against the costs of water protection measures if all boundary conditions are met.

For the withdrawal and discharge of water from an above-ground body of water, as well as the extraction, surface extraction, underground discharge and discharge of groundwater, a water abstraction fee may be levied in Germany. Whether and to what extent the water abstraction fee is levied is decided by the individual Länder. Likewise, whether and to what extent there is the possibility of offsetting measures for water protection.

There is no uniform regulation in the federal states in which the water abstraction fee is levied.

• Form name: State-specific designation
• If applicable, link to the aforementioned form: Federal state specific
• Online procedure possible: State-specific
• Written form required: State specific
• Personal appearance required: specific federal state

There must be an obligation to pay the water abstraction fee and a water protection measure(s) must be carried out.

• Water withdrawal charge laws of the federal states

There is no uniform procedure of the federal states, as this depends on the specific legal requirements and structures in the individual states.

The processing time depends on the quality and scope of the submitted forms and documents.

The amount of the fee depends in principle on the medium from which the water was taken (groundwater or surface water), the amount of water and the rate to be used in each case.