Sewage Discharge Fee; Submission of a Declaration for the Determination or Request for Offset of Fees for Large-Scale Discharges and Stormwater
The discharge of treated wastewater and stormwater is subject to a fee. If the fee is not calculated based on the limits specified in the water law decision, the party liable for the fee may submit a statement to the competent authority.
Status: 29.06.2026. Link zum BayernPortal
Online Procedures
Bavarian Wastewater Data Network (DABay)
Through the Bavarian Wastewater Data Network (DABay), entities subject to the fee can submit information on all facilities covered by the Bavarian Administrative Regulation on Wastewater Discharge (VwVBayAbwAG) regarding large-scale discharges and stormwater discharge fees online to the district administrative authority. Registration is required to use this digital process.
Please note the changes resulting from the 2025 amendment to the BayWG. The BayAbwAG has been repealed. As of January 1, 2026, the state regulations can be found in Articles 82–93 of the BayWG
For the 2025 tax year, the BayAbwAG and the VwVBayAbwAG apply in the versions valid through December 31, 2025. For this reason, the forms will continue to be made available.
If in doubt, please contact the district administrative authority.
A wastewater fee is levied for the discharge of wastewater into a body of water or its injection into the ground.
The amount of the wastewater fee is based on the harmfulness of the wastewater and is intended to provide an incentive for better treatment measures.
In general, anyone who discharges wastewater into a body of water or allows it to seep into the ground is subject to the wastewater fee. Wastewater includes sewage and stormwater. Fees apply to the following three areas:
- Discharge Fee for Large-Scale Discharges
- Discharge fee for stormwater
- Discharge fee for small discharges
The district administrative authorities are responsible for setting the fee.
While the wastewater fee for large discharges and stormwater is included in the operating costs of the municipal wastewater treatment plant, for discharges from households of less than 8 m³/d of wastewater per day (small dischargers), the respective municipality is liable for the fee and then passes the fee on to the residents concerned by means of a “pass-through ordinance” (see “Related Topics” for more information).
If the fee is not determined on the basis of a notice pursuant to Section 4(1) through (3) of the Wastewater Fee Act, the party liable for the fee must provide the information necessary for the decision and submit the relevant documents to the competent authority.
Expenses incurred for the construction or expansion of facilities or installations may be offset against the fee if a corresponding declaration is submitted.
Declarations regarding the assessment of the wastewater discharge fee must be submitted by the operator of a wastewater treatment plant (major discharger) (e.g., companies or municipalities).
An application for offsetting requires that the party liable for the fee be required to pay a fee during the offsetting period or have already paid it, and that the party has incurred expenses.
The declarations and applications pursuant to the Administrative Regulation on the Wastewater Discharge Fee Act and the Bavarian Act Implementing the Wastewater Discharge Fee Act (VwVBayAbwAG) may be submitted by the operator of the wastewater treatment plant up through and including the 2025 tax year using the provided forms or via the DABay online application (see “Online Procedures”). Declarations for the 2026 tax year and beyond must be submitted in digital form.
The district administrative authority requires operators of wastewater treatment plants to submit a declaration via DABay.
The competent district administrative authority then determines the wastewater fee based on the submitted data and issues a notice. This notice is sent to the applicant in writing.
If necessary, the district administrative authority will consult the competent water management office (as well as the DABay online application) and request that it monitor compliance with the declared values and report its findings.
If a declaration is made stating that lower values than those specified in the assessment notice will be reported, the declaration must be submitted by November 30 prior to the start of the assessment period (= the next calendar year).
If the reporting period is less than one year or falls within the current year, the declaration must be received by the competent district administrative authority at least 2 weeks before the start of the reporting period.
- The information provided in the statement must be supported by documentation, if necessary.
For the purpose of verification, the district administrative authority may require the submission of expert opinions and certifications by a certified public accountant.