Ruhrverband takes over water maintenance in Halver

The Ruhrverband will be responsible for maintaining most of the watercourses in Halver in future. Mayor Armin Kibbert and the Chairman of the Ruhrverband, Prof. Christoph Donner, signed an agreement to this effect on 21 January 2026. Subject to the approval of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ruhrverband will assume responsibility for water maintenance in the municipal area on 1 February 2026. Specifically, this involves around 120 kilometres of watercourses. Around 20 kilometres of these are subject to the reporting obligations of the EU Water Framework Directive. Waters that belong to the catchment area of the Wupperverband are excluded from the agreement.

The Halver town council had already unanimously approved the move on 7 July 2025. The association meeting of the Ruhrverband also gave the green light on 19 December 2025. In view of the shortage of skilled labour, the transfer of tasks will significantly reduce the burden on the town of Halver. Water maintenance in Halver is thus secured in the long term and organised in a legally secure manner. In addition, the Ruhrverband's public services are not subject to VAT and subsidies for water development measures can continue to be utilised in full.

The Ruhrverband brings its water management expertise to the table: it assesses the condition of the watercourses, plans and coordinates measures for their ecological development and takes flood protection aspects into account. In close coordination with the town of Halver, an integrated river basin management system is created that combines ecological improvements with economic efficiency. Citizens also benefit from this: water bodies are upgraded and flood risks can be reduced in the long term.

Background
According to the State Water Act, local authorities are responsible for the maintenance of second-tier watercourses. The Ruhrverband Act and the State Water Act authorise the Ruhrverband to take on this task, provided that the local authority and the association are in agreement and the supervisory authority approves. With the agreement that has now been signed, the town of Halver is making use of this option.