Wastewater
Split wastewater fee
You can manage without it
Wastewater costs are incurred among other things by purification of the diluted sewage and storm water in the sewage system, the maintenance of the public sewer system and stormwater treatment and discharge systems. To cover these costs for wastewater and stormwater disposal, up to present a sewage fee has been charged which is calculated on the basis of the amount of tap water consumed. Here it was assumed that the waste water volume discharged into the sewer system from all plots was approximately equal to the amount of fresh water consumed.
Various administrative tribunals have ruled that charging fees based on this measurement of fresh water is no longer valid. Local authorities are now required to charge the costs to the public sewerage system on the basis of use, ie: according to the actual amount of wastewater discharged.
From the ecological point of view this creates an incentive for re-exposure of paved areas that promote the natural water cycle on the property as well as reducing the stormwater fee. By means of a infiltration system (and especially by combining rainwater utilization and a soakaway) property owners can thus take advantage of economic benefits as a result of fresh water charges and stormwater fees being reduced.
Split wastewater fee
With the introduction of a split wastewater fee, the previous general sewerage charge in future will be divided into a wastewater fee and a stormwater fee. The wastewater fee covers the cost of disposing of sewage. It is calculated as before on the basis of fresh water consumed (Eur / m³). The stormwater utility fee covers the cost of stormwater disposal. It is calculated according to the size and type of impermeable areas (ie: paved or constructed areas) from which stormwater is diverted into the drainage system (Eur / m²).
Chargeable and non-chargeable impermeable surfaces
The stormwater fee is payable on areas that discharge directly into the sewer system and have their own connection to the sewers (eg: via a rain gutter). Also areas that discharge indirectly into the sewer system that do not have their own sewer connection, but from which, for example, rainwater enters the road sump due to the terrain slope are chargeable. However this also depends on the manner of impermeabilization (complete, stable or light), in which case this surface is then weighted according to an index (for instance) 0.8 or 0.4).
No fee is charged for land from which no rain water is discharged into the public sewer system. Furthermore, no fee is due if rainwater infiltrates directly or in combination with a cistern. However, these areas should also be indicated separately.
The detailed rules and the possible reductions per area can differ greatly from one local authority to another. Request information from your local authority on the details so that you can make the most savings.
