Wastewater disposal; payment of a small discharger levy

According to the German Federal Wastewater Levy Act and the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG), municipalities are obliged to pay a wastewater levy to the state for small dischargers.

Please note the changes due to the BayWG amendment 2025. The BayAbwAG has been repealed. Since 01.01.2026, the provisions of state law can be found in Art. 82-93 BayWG

The BayAbwAG and the VwVBayAbwAG apply for the 2025 levy year in the version valid until 31.12.2025. For this reason, the forms will continue to be made available.

In case of doubt, please contact the district administrative authority.

The small discharger levy (wastewater levy) must be paid by the municipality for small discharges of domestic wastewater up to 8 m3/d for direct discharge into a body of water or infiltration if the wastewater is discharged into a body of water without treatment in a wastewater treatment plant or if the sewage sludge is not properly disposed of. As a rule, the charge can be passed on to the polluter.

According to the German Federal Wastewater Levy Act and the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG), municipalities are obliged to pay a wastewater levy to the state for small dischargers. Small dischargers are households that discharge less than 8 m3 of wastewater per day into a body of water or allow it to seep away. The municipalities liable to pay the levy have been given the option by law to pass on the wastewater levy to the property owners.

The levy is set by notice.

Small discharges are exempt from the levy if the discharge has been treated in a small sewage treatment plant that has been constructed in accordance with the generally recognized rules of technology and the proper disposal of the sewage sludge is ensured.