Apply for a permit to withdraw and discharge water from surface waters

You can apply for a permit from your local water authority. The general procedure is as follows:

• Send your application for authorization with the required documents to the responsible water authority.
• The responsible water authority
  • checks whether your application and documents are complete and contacts you if any information or documents are missing,
  • examines your application from a water management and water law perspective and involves other authorities if necessary.
• If necessary, affected parties will be involved as part of a public participation process.
• You will receive
  • a notice of approval or
  • a rejection notice.
• You will also receive a fee notice.
• You pay the fee.

Please contact the responsible Structural and Approval Directorate North or South.

• Your project is not reasonable without the secure legal status of a permit.
• The watercourse and the public water supply will not be endangered by your use.

In your application for a permit, please provide the following information, among others:

• Reasons why a secure legal status is necessary for your project
• Explanation of the purpose and plan of your project

The other documents you need for your application will vary depending on the type and scope of your project. In a preliminary discussion with the responsible water authority, you can clarify which documents are required in your case.

As a rule, several or all of the following documents are required:

• Explanatory report
• Overview site plan as a topographical map showing the existing or planned extraction facility
• Current cadastral site plan showing the existing or planned extraction point
• Information on the type and construction data of the extraction facility
• schematic representation of the extraction facility in plan view
• Accompanying nature conservation planning, including entry in the compensation area register for new plants
• If applicable: Technical contribution to the Water Framework Directive

• Certificate of competence

Fees apply.

There is no statutory deadline. Apply for approval in good time before starting your project.

The processing time depends in particular on the quality and scope of your application and the documents.

• § Section 8 (1) of the German Federal Water Act (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz - WHG)
• § Section 9(1)(1) of the Federal Water Act (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz - WHG)
• § Section 14 of the Water Resources Act (Wasserhaushaltsgesetz - WHG)

Action before the administrative court

State Office for the Environment

01.12.2023