Wasserwirtschaftsverwaltungen

Wasserwirtschaft is the discipline and practice concerned with managing water resources to meet public health, environmental, economic, and social goals. It encompasses all activities related to the collection, distribution, use, treatment, and protection of freshwater, as well as the management of wastewater and floods. The field integrates engineering, hydrology, ecology, economics, and policy. Core components include water supply for households and industry, sanitation and wastewater treatment, irrigation for agriculture, and the generation of hydroelectric power where applicable, as well as flood control, river basin planning, and coastal and marine water management.

Key instruments are infrastructure (dams, reservoirs, pipes, treatment facilities), measurement and data systems (flow, quality, groundwater levels), and regulatory frameworks. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) emphasizes coordinating water, land, and related resources across sectors and administrative borders to maximize social welfare in an environmentally sustainable way. Governance typically involves national or regional agencies, water utilities, environmental authorities, and, in transboundary basins, international cooperation.

Policy context in the European sphere is shaped by directives such as the EU Water Framework Directive, which aims for good ecological status of bodies of water and integrated river basin management. Challenges include climate change, aging infrastructure, urbanization, and balancing competing uses of water resources. Sustainable Wasserwirtschaft seeks to align economic viability with ecological integrity and public health.