Wastewater disposal; payment of a small discharger levy

Please note the changes introduced by the 2025 amendment to the BayWG. The BayAbwAG has been repealed. Since 1 January 2026, the provisions of state law have been incorporated into Articles 82–93 of the BayWG.

For the 2025 tax year, the BayAbwAG and the VwVBayAbwAG apply in the version valid until 31 December 2025. For this reason, the forms will continue to be made available.

If in doubt, please contact the district administrative authority.

The small-scale discharger levy (wastewater levy) is payable to the local authority for small-scale discharges of domestic wastewater up to 8 m³/d where the wastewater is discharged directly into a body of water or allowed to percolate into the ground, provided that the wastewater is discharged into a watercourse without first being treated at a wastewater treatment plant, or the sewage sludge is not disposed of properly. The charge can generally be passed on to the polluter.

Under the Federal Wastewater Charges Act and the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG), local authorities are obliged to pay a wastewater charge to the state on behalf of small dischargers. ‘Small dischargers’ are defined as households that discharge or allow less than 8 m³ of wastewater per day to seep into a body of water. The law grants municipalities liable for the levy the option of passing the wastewater levy on to property owners.

The levy is determined by a notice.

Small-scale discharges are exempt from the charge if the effluent has been treated in a small-scale sewage treatment plant constructed in accordance with generally accepted technical standards and the proper disposal of the sewage sludge is ensured.