Numerous legal regulations are of crucial importance for operators of industrial wastewater treatment plants or wastewater treatment facilities. In addition to the German Wastewater Ordinance (AbwV) and official assessment notices, various state-specific regulations must also be taken into account, depending on the federal state. In addition, self-monitoring of the wastewater system is mandatory in accordance with Section 61 of the German Federal Water Act (WHG).
In this article, we show which ordinance applies to which federal state and describe the purpose of the ordinances. In addition, in further articles we will provide a guide to compliance with these regulations and highlight the associated obligations for you as an operator.
Table of contents
Self-monitoring and self-inspection: scope of operational monitoring
The ordinances on self-monitoring and self-inspection of wastewater systems specify the minimum scope of self-inspection. Unless otherwise stipulated in the permits issued by the competent authority, all requirements of the ordinances must be met. In most federal states, it is also necessary to submit an annual report on the proper implementation of self-monitoring to the responsible authorities.
Structure and scope of the annual report
In the annual report, it is necessary to prove to the responsible authorities that the plant has been operated properly in accordance with the requirements of the permit or approval notice, the Wastewater Ordinance (AbwV) and other relevant ordinances. The report typically includes the following points:
The annual report covers the following points:
- Description of the plant and its purpose, including the origin of the wastewater and the treatment processes used.
- Compilation of monitoring data, such as wastewater generation, pollutant concentrations and loads as well as annual averages.
- Information on the whereabouts and, in some cases, the composition of residual materials such as sewage sludge.
- List of the equipment used for system management.
- Report on leak tests, any conversions as well as calibration and test protocols for the flow measurement devices.
- If necessary, at regular intervals, but not annually: inspection reports on sewers and drains.
- Presentation of significant operational changes.
Large parts of the annual report can be derived from a carefully kept and proper operating diary. The keeping of such operating diaries is mandatory anyway according to § 3 of the Wastewater Ordinance. It is therefore advisable to check the exact requirements of the ordinance before creating an operating log in order to record relevant data and obligations in advance for later inclusion in the annual report.
Applicable regulations and deadlines for submitting the annual report in the individual federal states
Hesse
Wastewater Self-Monitoring Ordinance (EKVO)
Submission of the annual report by March 31 of the following year
In addition, the operating log must be checked and countersigned by the water protection officer or the plant manager at least once a month.
https://www.rv.hessenrecht.hessen.de/bshe/document/jlr-EigenkontrollVHE2010V6P1/part/X
Bavaria
Self-monitoring ordinance (EÜV)
Submission of the annual report by March 1 of the following year
Baden-Württemberg
Self-Monitoring Ordinance (EKVO)
Operational documentation must be submitted to the water authority on request and confirmed at least quarterly by the water protection officer or a senior employee.
https://www.landesrecht-bw.de/bsbw/document/jlr-AbwAnlEigKontrVBWrahmen/part/X
Saxony-Anhalt
Self-monitoring ordinance (EigÜVO)
Submission of the annual report by March 31 of the following year
Thuringia
Self-monitoring ordinance (ThürAbwEKVO)
Submission of the annual report (self-monitoring report) by March 31 of the following year
In addition, the operating log must be checked and countersigned at least once a month by the water protection officer or the wastewater treatment plant operator.
https://landesrecht.thueringen.de/bsth/document/jlr-AbwEKVTH2004rahmen/part/X
Rhineland-Palatinate
State ordinance on the self-monitoring of wastewater facilities (SÜVOA)
Submission of the self-monitoring report by March 10 of the following year
In addition, the farm diary must be checked and countersigned by the farm manager at least once a month.
https://www.landesrecht.rlp.de/bsrp/document/jlr-AbwAnlE%C3%9CVRPrahmen/part/X
Saarland
Ordinance on the self-monitoring of wastewater treatment plants (EKVO)
Submission of the annual report (self-monitoring report) to the State Office for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety by March 31 of the following year
In addition, the operating log must be checked and countersigned at least once a month by the water protection officer or the wastewater treatment plant operator.
https://recht.saarland.de/bssl/document/jlr-EigenkontrollVSLpP1/part/X
Schleswig-Holstein
State ordinance on the self-monitoring of wastewater facilities and wastewater discharges (Self-Monitoring Ordinance (SüVO))
Submission of the annual report (operating report) by March 1 of the following year
In addition, the operating log must be checked and countersigned at least every six months by the water protection officer or the wastewater treatment plant operator.
https://www.gesetze-rechtsprechung.sh.juris.de/bssh/document/jlr-AbwAnlSelbst%C3%9CVSH2012pP1/part/X
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Ordinance on the self-monitoring of wastewater facilities and wastewater discharges (Self-Monitoring Ordinance - SÜVO M-V)
Submission of the annual report (self-monitoring report) to the water authority by March 31 of the following year
In addition, the operating log must be checked and countersigned at least quarterly by the water protection officer or the wastewater treatment plant operator.
https://www.landesrecht-mv.de/bsmv/document/jlr-S%C3%9CVMV2006V1P2/part/X
Berlin
Berlin Water Act (BWG)
The operator of wastewater facilities requiring a permit may be obliged by the locally responsible district office to prepare an annual report (§ 29c BWG). The annual report and the scope of self-monitoring can be found in the approval and/or permit notice.
https://www.vermessung-kersten.de/wp-content/uploads//2016/03/berliner_wassergesetz.pdf
Hamburg
Hamburg Wastewater Act (HmbAbwG)
The operator of wastewater facilities requiring approval must monitor the facility in accordance with the approval and/or permit notice and present it to the competent authority at any time upon request.
https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-AbwGHApP17a/part/X
Saxony
Self-Monitoring Ordinance - EigenkontrollVO
Submission of the annual report (self-monitoring report) to the responsible water authority by March 31 of the following year.
https://www.revosax.sachsen.de/vorschrift/3150-Eigenkontrollverordnung
North Rhine-Westphalia
In accordance with Section 59 of the NRW State Water Act, the scope and frequency of self-monitoring of the wastewater system is determined by the responsible authority.
Bremen
The scope and frequency of self-monitoring of the wastewater treatment plant is determined by the competent authority.
Brandenburg
The scope and frequency of self-monitoring of the wastewater system is regulated by Section 75 of the Brandenburg Water Act (BbgWG), the Technical Rules for Self-Monitoring of Wastewater Systems (TRSüw) and the approval and/or permit notice. Documentation of proper plant operation must be submitted to the water authority upon request, unless otherwise specified in the approval and/or permit notice.
https://bravors.brandenburg.de/verwaltungsvorschriften/trsuew_2013
Lower Saxony
The scope and frequency of self-monitoring of the wastewater treatment plant is determined by the competent authority.
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