Small wastewater treatment plant; transmission of the certificate of functionality

The appointed private expert must be accredited by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment for the accreditation area ‘small-scale sewage treatment plants and septic tanks’ in accordance with the Regulation on Private Experts in Water Management (see ‘Further Links’).

Operational fitness must be checked and certified every two years from the date of final acceptance. If no defects are found, the period is extended to four years.

The private water management expert invoices the operator of the small-scale sewage treatment plant for their services. No further costs are incurred by the authorities.

• Section 60(1) of the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG)

• Private Water Management Experts (PSW)

  Lists of recognised PSWs

• Regulations on Private Experts in the Water Sector
• Guidance for private experts in the water sector

  Information for PSW

• Wastewater disposal for individual properties

  Information for the general public on small-scale sewage treatment plants

• Brochure: "Wastewater Treatment with Small-Scale Sewage Treatment Plants – Guidance on Planning, Construction and Operation"
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

  Information on small-scale sewage treatment plants and septic tanks

The certificate is to be drawn up digitally by a recognised private water management expert (PSW) and submitted to the relevant authority via the online procedure.

• The online procedure may only be used by a recognised private expert in water management (PSW). The accreditation number must be provided.
• The PSW must confirm that it has been commissioned by the operator.
• Upon dispatch, a data record is transmitted electronically to the relevant authority for further processing in its own local authority software programmes.
• A PDF file can also be generated and sent by the system.
• The PSW files the content submitted via the online procedure as a summary (a log in PDF format) in its project file for documentation purposes. It also sends this file to the operator for inclusion in their operating log and, in the case of indirect dischargers, to the holder of the water rights.

There is neither a statutory processing time limit nor a formal requirement for the authority to finalise the certificate. The authority will take action in the event of any shortcomings.