Water rights applications

Depending on the scope and boundary conditions, simplified to complex applications for water rights must be submitted to the responsible authority for the use of water bodies as part of construction projects or other interventions. By definition, the use of a body of water also includes the use of groundwater. This means that a so-called water rights application in accordance with $49 WHG must be submitted for groundwater lowering and discharges into bodies of water or the public sewage system, as is usually the case for construction projects with basements. In addition to the description of the construction dewatering, this water rights application also includes an expert evaluation of the impact of the groundwater lowering on protected assets (e.g. vegetation, monuments). In the case of known contamination, the effects of the groundwater lowering on this damage must also be mentioned in the water rights application.

Even if substances (e.g. shoring) are introduced into the groundwater or if construction projects lead to a build-up or lowering of the groundwater level in the final state, these must be described and applied for.

Conditions are usually attached to the authorised permit as the competent authority's response to a water rights application. In most cases, a monitoring concept is required, which includes recording the water levels in the immediate vicinity and transmitting this data to the authority.

Thanks to our many years of experience in the field of planning and applying for construction water rights, Mull und Partner Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH offers you all services relating to water rights applications from a single source. Whether you are applying for water rights for the construction of apartment blocks or entire residential neighbourhoods - even in the case of difficult building sites and suspected contamination - we at Mull & Partner Ingenieurgesellschaft will provide you with sound support.