Permits and authorizations pursuant to Sections 8 and 9 of the Federal Water Act (WHG); approvals and notifications pursuant to the respective state water law; facilities in and along water bodies pursuant to Section 36 of the Federal Water Act (WHG); approval of construction dewatering involving groundwater lowering.
Coordination with the lower water authority, exemption applications, and handling the requirements of protected area regulations and the guidelines set forth in DVGW W 101.
Applications for and agreements regarding crossings with the railroad, federal, state, and county highway authorities, as well as waterway and dike crossings, including coordination with dike and water management associations.
Identification of owners, license agreements, tolerance agreements, and limited personal easements through to registration in the land registry.
Assessment of species protection requirements pursuant to Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), tree protection in accordance with DVGW GW 125, impact and compensation assessment, soil protection, and management of sites suspected of being contaminated.
Traffic control orders pursuant to Section 45 of the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), traffic sign plans in accordance with the Road Sign Regulations (RSA), detour plans, and coordination with public transportation.
Preliminary survey for unexploded ordnance, preliminary archaeological consultation, and on-site supervision in cases of suspected archaeological sites.
We follow procedures to the letter, monitor deadlines, and document every inquiry in a way that allows for easy tracking. This ensures that your schedule remains reliable.
When do I need a water rights permit for a water line?
Simply laying a drinking water pipeline in the right-of-way does not, in and of itself, constitute use of water bodies. A permit is required as soon as groundwater is affected, such as in the case of construction dewatering involving groundwater lowering, watercourse crossings, and structures in or adjacent to water bodies pursuant to Section 36 of the Water Resources Act (WHG). In water protection areas, the requirements of the respective protection area ordinance also apply.
How long does a crossing agreement with the railroad last?
Expect the process to take several months. The application must be technically complete; the review is conducted in fixed processing stages, and requests for additional information significantly prolong the process. We recommend initiating the railway crossing procedure first, regardless of when it is scheduled in the construction timeline.
What happens if the route passes through a water protection area?
In that case, the prohibitions and restrictions set forth in the Protected Areas Ordinance apply, graded by zone. In Zone I, virtually nothing is permitted; in Zones II and III, we work with exemption applications, modified construction procedures, and special requirements for construction site facilities, operating materials, and soil replacement.
Do you also handle negotiations with property owners?
Yes. Identifying the owner, making initial contact, negotiating the contract, and securing the property in the land registry are all part of our scope of services. This task is regularly underestimated in projects and is one of the most common causes of delays.
Your route is set, but you still need permits?
Rely on our experience. We’ll review your route corridor, identify all necessary procedures, and give you a realistic estimate of the lead times you’ll need to plan for.
Do you have any questions? We’d be happy to answer any inquiries you may have regarding permitting, water law procedures, and water pipeline construction.
