Entnahme von Grundwasser Bewilligung

Would you like to temporarily lower the groundwater level on a property? Then please read on here.

Temporary, i.e. temporary, lowering of the groundwater or backwater may be necessary during construction measures in order to keep an excavation pit dry or to avoid a hydraulic heave. As a rule, these measures may only be carried out with a permit under water law.
Please also read: Groundwater lowering - hamburg.de

Information on the planned lowering measure and an excerpt from the field map / site plan with the entry of the system location (further systems see the form).

In certain cases, no permit under water law is required, but the project must be reported (currently still on a form ).
This includes:

• short-term pumping attempts,
• Groundwater lowering with a lowering level of less than 1.0 m and a maximum duration of four weeks with open dewatering (auxiliary construction drainage)
• and small-scale subsidence (e.g. when installing shafts) over a maximum of ten days with small vacuum filter systems,
• Sampling from groundwater measuring points (not subject to notification).

For the exceptions, please read: Prerequisites for use without a permit

A one-time administration fee is charged for the processing of applications as part of the environmental fee schedule. This depends on the official work and time involved in processing the application.

ATTENTION: the online reporting service is not intended for the first application, but for subsequent reporting of measured water levels.

Status April 2023: currently up to 12 weeks
The notification will be issued as quickly as possible with the usual processing times.

Applications for permission to lower the groundwater level should be submitted eight to ten weeks before the start of the measures.
A notification of a minor, temporary groundwater lowering must be received 2 weeks before the start of the measure.

Due to staff shortages, there are currently extended processing times when issuing water law permits for temporary groundwater lowering. The average processing time is currently 3 months. Be sure to plan for this additional time requirement and submit the necessary applications in good time.

An objection can be raised against a decision within one month.

Authority for the Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture