Water protection areas are designated by statutory order where groundwater resources are used for the public drinking water supply and for which special regulations are required due to existing or expected impacts that go beyond the generally applicable legal requirements.
The protection area is divided into protection zone I (catchment area), protection zone II (narrower protection zone) and protection zone III (wider protection zone).
Protection zone I is strictly limited and restricted to the area in which the groundwater is extracted directly. Virtually all actions and impacts are prohibited in the catchment area.
The narrower protection zone is demarcated for areas in which the flow time of the groundwater from the outer edge to the catchment is a maximum of 50 days. This protection zone is also known as the hygienic protection belt. This is intended to minimize microbiological influences.
As a rule, protection zone III covers the entire catchment area of the drinking water wells used.
In water protection areas, the so-called Protection Area and Compensation Ordinance (SchALVO) must be observed. This affects farmers in particular, as the SchALVO restricts proper agricultural use. Additional restrictions also apply in nitrate problem and remediation areas.
