Facility-related Water Protection Related to Facilities
Facility-based water protection is intended to prevent wastewater treatment facilities or facilities handling substances hazardous to water from polluting rivers, lakes, or groundwater. If pollution has already occurred, the lower-level water authority ensures that the damage is mitigated or remedied.
Facilities and discharges are monitored regularly. Water protection measures at businesses are also inspected.
If there is a danger to people or the environment, the authority may order immediate action. In urgent cases, the Lower Water Authority can be reached via a 24-hour on-call service. Reports must be filed at the nearest police station.
Heating Oil Storage Facilities
If you wish to install and operate a heating oil system, you must first notify the relevant water authority.
For above-ground heating oil tanks with a capacity of more than 1,000 liters and for all underground heating oil tanks, you are personally responsible for filing this report in a timely manner.
You must notify the water authority in writing at least six weeks before construction begins or a major modification is made (Section 40 AwSV).
Equipment must be inspected by a qualified expert prior to commissioning and at regular intervals (§ 46 AwSV) if:
- Equipment and equipment components are installed underground,
- above-ground storage facilities with a capacity of more than 10,000 liters,
- Above-ground facilities with a capacity of more than 1,000 liters, if they are located in protected areas (e.g., water protection areas, mineral spring protection areas, or floodplains).
Heating oil tanks with a capacity exceeding 1,000 liters may only be installed, cleaned, repaired, or decommissioned by licensed contractors in accordance with § 62 AwSV.
The specialized contractor must provide you with written proof that it holds the appropriate license (Section 45 AwSV).
Systems may only be decommissioned by a qualified contractor.
A facility subject to periodic inspections must undergo a decommissioning inspection conducted by an expert.
If heating oil leaks or environmental damage occurs, you must shut down the system immediately and notify the water authority or the police (Section 24 AwSV).
Post the information sheet titled “Operating and Behavioral Guidelines for the Operation of Heating Oil Storage Facilities” in a clearly visible location near your facility (available in the download section on this page).
Certified inspection agencies for storage facilities (e.g., heating oil storage)
AGU-TSO e. V., Facility Inspection Organization—Water Protection—Environmental
Technology Inspection AgencyFulda, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Markus Booß, Emil-Sauer Street4, 36119 Neuhof
Telefon: 06655 797600, E-Mail agu-Fulda@sandra-breitenbach.deBetreuungsgesellschaft forUmweltfragen Dr. Poppe AG
Teich Street14-16, 34130 Kassel
Telefon: 0800 9699600DEKRA Automobil GmbH
OfficeFrankfurt: Borsigallee 24 b, 60388 Frankfurt
Telefon: 069 420830
Niederlassung Fulda: Danziger Street6, 36093 Künzell
Telefon: 0661 94590Fachbetriebsgemeinschaft Maschinenbau e. V.
Lyoner Street18, 60528 Frankfurt
Telefon: 069 66031842Plant Inspection OrganizationGeopohl AG
Johannes-Reitz Street6, 09120 Chemnitz
Telefon: 0371 8449490
Testing facilitySchenklengsfeld: Konroder Street36 c, 36277 Schenklengsfeld
Telefon: 06629 915493GSW mbH Gesellschaft For Expertsnach Wasserrecht
Engineering FirmReinke, Testing AgencyHessen, Wellebach Street30, 34355 Staufenberg
Telefon: 05543 4084, E-Mail reinke@ibreinke.deGesellschaft zum Schutz von Wasser, Boden und Luft mbH
Ing. OfficeSkolimowski, 34225 Baunatal, Buschrosenweg 3
Telefon: 05665 961473Jörg Engineering FirmTrietsch
Neue Siedlung 8, 35649 Bischoffen
Telefon: 0800 8866345SOUTEC e. V.
EcoNet Leiders, Brandes und Partner, Göttinger Street25, 34123 Kassel
Telefon: 0561 983240TOS CheckGmbH
Dörfel Engineering Office, Rötweg6, 98574 Schmalkalden
Telefon: 03683 405618TPD Technischer Inspection ServiceBayern e. V.
Engineering FirmMartin Reichelt, Austraße5, 36381 Schlüchtern
Telefon: 06661 607188, Mobil: 0151 40300662, E-Mail: tpd-reichelt@web.deTÜVRheinland Industrie Service GmbH
Am Grauen Stein, 51105 Cologne
Telefon: 0221 806-2339TÜVTechnische MonitoringHessen GmbH
Knorr Street36, 34121 Kassel
Telefon: 0561 2091-201, E-Mail: heizoelannahme-kassel@tuevhessen.deÜWG- SHK e. V.
Testing facilitySiegbert Simon, Illbachweg 9, 36129 Gersfeld
Telefon: 06656 911106, E-Mail simon@shk-simon.deTesting facilityIng. Göring
Vogelsberg Street129 a, 69679 Schotten
Telefon: 0174 3385763Testing facilityDipl.-Ing. Matthias Stroh
Am Daubensitz 14, 34626 Neukirchen
Telefon: 06694 919039, E-Mail: matthias.stroh@t-online.deThis list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Facilities for Handling Substances Hazardous to Water
Anyone who constructs or modifies a facility where water-polluting substances are handled must notify the competent water authority at least six weeks in advance.
The reporting requirement applies to all facilities that must be inspected regularly under the Ordinance on Facilities Handling Substances Hazardous to Water (§ 46, paras. 2 and 3, AwSV). Appendices 5 and 6 of the AwSV specify in more detail which facilities must be inspected, what types of inspections are required, and when they must take place.
The key factor here is the facility’s hazard level (Section 39 of the AwSV). This depends on the size of the facility and the substance’s potential to pollute water.
In particular, facilities where liquid substances that are hazardous to water are stored must be reported—for example:
- underground facilities,
- above-ground facilities with a capacity of more than
- 100 m³ for Water Hazard Class (WGK) 1, e.g., antifreeze
- 1 m³ for substances classified under Water Hazard Class (WGK), e.g., heating oil, diesel
- 0.22 m³ for Water Hazard Class (WGK) 3, e.g., used motor oil.