Legal framework for the provision of service water in Germany

Abstract

The EU-regulation 2020/741 establishes, for the first time, binding minimum requirements for water reuse, although it is limited to agricultural irrigation. Other applications, such as industrial or municipal uses, are not regulated but may be permitted by Member States, provided that environmental and health protection is ensured. In Germany, there is currently no specific regulation for industrial wastewater reuse; the general provisions of the Water Resources Act (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz) apply. According to § 55 WHG, wastewater must primarily be disposed of, but its reuse may be approved as a form of water use.