Water law permit - construction projects in groundwater

In the course of a construction project, there may be interventions in the groundwater for which a permit under water law is required.

Description

Interventions relevant to water law include, for example

  • Pumping out and thus lowering groundwater to drain an excavation pit and discharging the extracted water back into the groundwater.
  • Temporary or permanent damming up and possibly also lowering of groundwater due to a building structure or the enclosure of a building pit.
  • Introduction of substances into the groundwater (buildings or building materials such as foundations, building materials, bored piles, sheet piling, injections).

The resulting construction water (groundwater and rainwater in the excavation pit) must be discharged back into the near-surface subsoil via absorption wells or soakaways after passing through a settling basin to settle fine particles.

Discharge into the municipal sewer or into surface waters (such as municipal streams, rivers and lakes) is not desirable and is only authorised in very well-founded individual cases.

The water law permit from the Department of Climate and Environmental Protection is required in addition to the building permit from the local building commission or a permit from the Munich Municipal Drainage Department!

Required documents

All documents are required on paper in quadruplicate and also digitally in accordance with our information sheet.

NEW:
As part of the application documents, calculations on the height and range of the groundwater accumulation resulting from the construction project must also be submitted. Proof must be provided that no detrimental situation will arise for existing neighbouring buildings. If necessary, the planned measures to reduce the water build-up must be presented.

Duration & Costs

Processing time

Up to several months (depending on complexity, scope of testing and required procedure).

Fees

100 euros to 7,000 euros, depending on the pumping and seepage volume and the duration of the permit, among other things

Payment methods available

Legal basis

Sections 8 to 15 of the Water Resources Act
Article 15 and Article 70 of the Bavarian Water Act

Landeshauptstadt München

Referat für Klima- und Umweltschutz
Sachgebiet Wasserrecht

Internet

Postal address

Landeshauptstadt München
Referat für Klima- und Umweltschutz
Sachgebiet Wasserrecht

Bayerstraße 28a
80335 München

Address

Bayerstraße 28a
80335 München

Accessibility

  • Not available:Barrier-free access
  • Not available:Disabled parking

All citizens' offices (4th floor) are barrier-free.

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