A sewer network transfer is the transfer of a legally regulated task from one public authority to another.

In the case of a sewer network transfer, a municipality that is a member of a water association established under special legislation (e.g. the Ruhrverband) transfers the sewer network-related tasks of wastewater disposal to its water association. By virtue of legal regulation, the latter thus becomes responsible for collecting and transporting the wastewater produced in the municipality. As this task can only be fulfilled with the existing local sewer system, the transfer of the sewer network to the association takes place at the same time as the transfer of tasks.

No, a sewer network transfer is not privatisation.

A sewer network transfer is an act of state organisation between public authorities which, as non-profit institutions, do not pursue the intention of making a profit by performing sovereign tasks, but rather perform tasks of public service provision in the general interest. In contrast, privatisation shifts tasks that were previously the responsibility of public authorities into the hands of private companies whose interest in performing these tasks is to make a profit. In the context of privatisation, profits automatically lead to higher fees.

No.

In Germany, wastewater disposal is regulated as a public service and therefore cannot be privatised.

The State Water Act contains an explicit legal basis for a sewer network transfer.

Since its amendment in 2016, Section 52 (2) of the NRW State Water Act (LWG) stipulates that member municipalities of special water boards can transfer their sewer network-related wastewater disposal tasks (collection and transport of wastewater) to their water board. This regulation gives the municipalities belonging to the association an option. However, the provision does not give the association the right to access the sewer networks of its member municipalities.