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Water Resources Protection

Groundwater, spring water and surface water are major elements of the natural water cycle, valuable resources and subjects of protection per se. The goal is to protect water resources everywhere against anthropogenic entries and to exclude or minimise measurably present contamination as well as potential hazards.

Taking a water sample; © Foto: DVGW, Roland Horn
Position paper on water resources protection
Groundwater, spring water and surface water are major elements of the natural water cycle, valuable resources and subjects of protection per se. The goal is to protect water resources everywhere against anthropogenic entries and to exclude or minimise measurably present contamination as well as potential hazards. Essential principles to achieve this goal are the precautionary principle, the probihibition of all actions which impair water resource quality and the polluter-pays principle.
DVGW Position Paper
Position Paper On Water Resources Protection
August 2008
(PDF, 34 KB)
Groundwater memorandum
For a secure and durable drinking water supply the groundwater in the catchment area must be protected so that drinking water can be obtained using only natural processes. The groundwater quality is of a special importance for a secure drinking water supply in this case. The Memorandum is supported jointly by eight German, Austrian, Swiss and International Associations.
Memorandum
Groundwater Memorandum 2004
in German, English, French and Dutch
(PDF, 649 KB)
Further Informations

Topics

Nitrates and Drinking Water

In many places, intensive agriculture has a negative impact on natural water resources. Overfertilisation has led to a progressive deterioration in groundwater quality in Germany.

Learn more
DVGW Set of Rules

The following standards and guidelines related to Water Resource Protection are translated into English and available as PDF files:

Standard W 101 2006-06

Guidelines on Drinking Water Protection Area, Part I: Groundwater Protection Areas

to W 101
Standard W 102 2002-04

Guidelines for Drinking Water Protection Areas; Part II: Protection Areas for Dams

to W 102
Standard W 104 2004-10

Basic principles and measures of water protecting farming

to W 104
Guideline W 105 2016-10

Forest Management and Water Resources Protection

to W 105
Standard W 107 2016-02

Guidance for the Application of Numerical Groundwater Models in Catchment Areas of Drinking Water Abstraction Points

to W 107
Standard W 108 2003-12

Monitoring of Groundwater Quality in Water Catchment Areas

to W 108
Standard W 111 2015-03

Planning, Execution and Analysis of Pumping Tests in Groundwater Development

to W 111
Standard W 121 2003-07

Design and Construction of Groundwater Monitoring Points

to W 121