VATTENFÖRVALTNING I TYSKLAND – MED EXEMPEL FRÅN NIEDERSACHSEN / Water Resources Management in Germany – with Example from Niedersachsen
Water resources management in Germany is based on river basin related planning and discharge fees respectively. Large amounts of data are processed in the planning, that is describing and analyzing, emphasizing on solving conflicts between water users (including the natural ecosystem). Management is more connected with the fees that are taken out mainly on the basis of damage units for COD, AOX, some heavy metals and (from 1992) nitrogen and phosphorus. The intention is to let the fees be more expensive to pay than would the cost be to clean the effluent. The different roles of the authorities are very clear. Regulations are given by the central and federal governments. Control is done by the dischargers themselves in cooperation with federal authorities that are tax financed. And the fees are distributed back to adequate investments by a separate organization