Water Network - Project Management
and Consulting

Reliable from the Start

Anyone who replaces a drinking water pipeline today is making a commitment for the next fifty years. That’s how long the materials are designed to last, and that’s how long right-of-way agreements and connection arrangements generally remain in effect. netzkontor nord manages projects for water networks and supports water utilities, municipal utilities, special-purpose associations, and local governments through every phase of a project.

Pressure on the drinking water supply is currently mounting on several fronts simultaneously. Since 2023, the Drinking Water Ordinance has required comprehensive risk management that begins in the watershed and ends only at the consumer’s tap. Large portions of the local networks date back to the expansion years of the 1960s and 1970s and are reaching the end of their technical service life. At the same time, new residential developments, commercial areas, and new fire-fighting water requirements are creating demands for which the existing pressure zone was never designed.

Our consulting services organize these requirements and translate them into a clear sequence of actions that you can also explain to the public works committee.

Our Range of Services in Water Network Project Management

To begin with, we’ll work with you to clarify:

  • Supply situation: Pressure conditions, firewater supply in accordance with DVGW W 405, redundancy in the event of a pipe failure
  • Network condition: Damage statistics per DVGW W 402, water balance, and ILI index per DVGW W 392
  • Economic viability: Investment requirements, service life, impact on water pricing calculations
  • Schedule and Resource Planning Across All Project Phases
  • Coordination with the public health department, the local water authority, the road construction authority, and the civil engineering office
  • Coordination with electricity, heating, and fiber-optic infrastructure projects so that the road is dug up only once instead of four times
  • Specifications in accordance with VOB/C and ATV DIN 18300 et seq.
  • Qualification assessment of piping contractors: Certification in accordance with DVGW GW 301, GW 302, and GW 381
  • Change order and claim management during construction
  • Water law proceedings under the Federal Water Act (WHG) and the respective state water law
  • Easements, permit agreements, and limited personal easements
  • Crossings with railroad facilities, federal highways, waterways, and dikes
  • Flushing and Disinfection Procedure in Accordance with DVGW W 291; Sampling Prior to Approval
  • Pressure testing in accordance with DVGW W 400-2 and DIN EN 805 by qualified personnel
  • Integration into ongoing operations, if possible without interrupting service
  • As-Built Documentation in GIS According to DVGW GW 120
  • Handover to the network operator and on-call service
  • Updating Your Rehabilitation Strategy in Accordance with DVGW W 403

Your Benefits at a Glance

  • A single point of contact: Planning, permitting, construction management, and utility documentation are all handled by the same person.
  • Multi-utility experience: We also plan power, heating, and fiber-optic routes and have practical experience with conflicts in road cross-sections.
  • Compliance with regulations: The DVGW worksheets in the W and GW series are part of our daily routine.
  • Operating Nationwide: From our office in Flensburg, we manage water projects throughout Germany.
  • Transparency on Costs and Deadlines: You’ll receive regular status reports that you can take directly to committee meetings.

Your Journey with Us

  1. Initial Consultation: Clarify Objectives, Scope, and Constraints
  2. Assessment: Review network data, damage history, and pressure and consumption curves
  3. Comparison of Options: Evaluate replacement, rehabilitation, or rerouting from technical and economic perspectives
  4. Approval & Contracting: Applications, RFP, and contract award recommendation
  5. Construction Phase: Construction management, quality assurance, and hygiene certification
  6. Handover: Documentation, GIS data entry, and final report

Frequently Asked Questions About Project Management in the Water Network

At what project size does it make sense to hire an external project manager?

It’s not so much the size that matters as the number of interfaces. A cable replacement project in a local network involving three government agencies, a railroad crossing, and twelve affected property owners ties up more resources than a significantly longer route through an open field. If your team also has to ensure network operations continue uninterrupted, bringing in external project management quickly becomes cost-effective.

Can we request individual services?

Yes. Many utilities bring us on board only for permitting or only for construction supervision. The service modules work individually, but they integrate seamlessly when you contract for several of them.
 

How long does a measure remain in the water network inventory?

Construction time is rarely the bottleneck. The lead times for water rights permits, intersection agreements, and property rights are the critical factors. For routes that cross rail lines or bodies of water, you should realistically plan for a lead time of twelve to eighteen months before the first excavator arrives.

What distinguishes water network projects from electricity or fiber-optic projects?

Hygiene. A fiber-optic cable is installed and works. A drinking water line must be flushed, disinfected, tested, and approved before it can be connected to the network. Added to this is the hydraulic impact: Every new line alters flow paths and residence times in the surrounding network.

Are you planning a project on the water distribution network?

Talk to our team. We’ll assess your network situation and let you know what lead times you need to plan for and where the risks in the project lie.

Do you have any questions? We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding water network project management, drinking water supply, and consulting.