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Water law permission for groundwater lowering

  • Bauen und Immobilien 



    	    

		    
In the case of construction measures, temporary groundwater lowering may be necessary to keep the excavation pit dry and/or to avoid a hydraulic ground fault. For these groundwater lowerings, you must apply for a permit from the water authority before starting the measure.

		    


                					    

						    

							    Competent Department
						    

						    
					    

                        
					    

						    

							    Basic information
						    

						    

							    

								    
According to § 8 and § 9 of the Water Resources Act, the lowering of groundwater is a water use requiring a permit. The water law procedure serves to check whether harmful groundwater changes are to be expected with the use of the water and whether other requirements under public law are met.

								    								    
What documents do I need?
    
    
  • Information required when applying for a permit to lower groundwater levels        
    The application should contain at least the following information: 
    

    • Applicant (name, address, telephone number)
    • Property concerned (address)
    • Site plan with entry of the drawdown area, the extraction and discharge point and the marking of the building plot
    • Floor profiles at the tapping points with specifications of the GW level in relation to NN
    • Hydrological calculation of the system (flow rate, lowering area, lowering depth in relation to sea level)
    • Sectional drawings
    • Indication of the planned discharge (sewer/surface water or re-injection into groundwater)
    • Reduction period
    • Nature of the lowering procedure
    
Lowering of groundwater in small quantities for a temporary purpose, where no adverse effects on the water balance, ecology or third parties are to be expected, may be exempted from the permit requirement in consultation with the water authority (Article 46 (1) 
    
Sentence 1 Water Resources Act). 
    
The prerequisite for a permit-free use in the course of a construction measure is that there is no groundwater contamination, contaminated sites or settlement sensitive development in the area of influence of the groundwater lowering and that the groundwater is not discharged into a surface water body. It is recommended to notify these projects to the water authority for examination in good time before the start of the measure, stating the local situation and the time frame. 
    
Detailed information on groundwater abstractions is summarised in the information sheet on groundwater lowering. The leaflet is available for download under the heading "further information, where can I find out more".

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