Boreholes requiring authorisation under water law

Course description

An application for a water law permit for drilling works requiring authorisation must be submitted in good time before the planned start of work. Such works include, for example, groundwater monitoring points, exploratory boreholes and ground investigation boreholes.

If boreholes are to be developed into groundwater monitoring points, the guidelines set out in the information sheet ‘Minimum criteria for the establishment of groundwater monitoring points’ issued by the Munich Water Management Office must be observed.

Boreholes that tap solely into the first or Quaternary aquifer are subject only to a notification requirement. (See ‘Boreholes and Work in Groundwater’)

The abstraction of groundwater for the purpose of conducting pumping tests is exempt from authorisation for a duration of up to 144 hours. Tests lasting longer than this, or those carried out at several wells simultaneously for a duration exceeding 72 hours, require authorisation.

For subsequent use of the groundwater tapped by the borehole, a separate procedure under water law must generally be carried out.

Required documents

You will find the required documents in the PDF entitled ‘Description of the documents required for applications relating to boreholes, wells and groundwater monitoring points in the deep aquifer ’.

The documents must be submitted in digital form and, in addition, in paper form in triplicate.

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Legal basis

§ Article 9 of the Federal Water Act (WHG)

Article 15 of the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG)