Waters

Watercourse development

Anyone wishing to develop, i.e. create, significantly alter or remove a body of water requires a planning approval decision. This requires a comprehensive planning approval procedure. A less extensive planning approval procedure may be possible for smaller development measures.

Installations in, on, over and under bodies of water

Anyone wishing to erect facilities or structures, e.g. bridges or footbridges, on a body of water requires a permit under water law.

Riparian strips serve to maintain and improve the ecological functions of surface waters, to store water, to ensure water runoff and to reduce the input of substances from diffuse sources. The legally stipulated watercourse edge strip is 5 m in the inner area and 10 m in the outer area. It is measured from the upper edge of the embankment inland or, in its absence, from the line of the mean water level. The bank is also part of the riparian strip.

The following, for example, are prohibited in riparian strips:

• The non-temporary depositing of objects that could obstruct the flow of water or be washed away.
• The construction of buildings or other deposits (e.g. wood storage).
• The use of fertilizers and pesticides within an area of 5 m (with the exception of wound closure agents for tree care and game bite protection agents).

Water withdrawals from surface waters using hand or motor-driven pumps require a permit under water law. Due to the water supply, however, this is only possible on larger bodies of water.

Drawing water from surface waters with hand containers (e.g. buckets, watering cans) is generally permitted to anyone within the scope of so-called public use and does not require a permit. The prerequisite for this is that the body of water in question has sufficient water and is not in danger of running dry. The creation of so-called pools or the damming of a body of water for the purpose of water extraction is not permitted. Withdrawing water from reservoirs and from bodies of water in courtyards, gardens or parks is not covered by public use. Failure to comply may result in warnings or fines in individual cases.