Rising costs for water and sewage services again
In the beginning of 2025, residents of Baden-Württemberg experienced a notable increase in their water and sewage fees. The main reason for this rise is the introduction of enhanced wastewater treatment requirements, such as the addition of a fourth treatment stage at plants like Bickenbach.
These additional costs are not only due to the new treatment processes but also stem from sustainable infrastructural investments and stricter environmental regulations impacting operation and maintenance expenses.
The current increase in water and sewage fees significantly exceeds the average inflation rate, reflecting one-time or step changes related to infrastructure upgrades rather than routine annual increases. Previous years generally saw more modest, inflation-linked fee rises.
The basic fee for water supply has risen by approximately +9%, while the sewage fee increase is around +5%. On average, a cubic meter of water now costs 2.72 euros in Baden-Württemberg, and sewage now costs 2.36 euros per cubic meter.
It is important to note that these changes apply only to regions within Baden-Württemberg. The energy and construction costs for water and sewage services have risen significantly, necessitating these fee increases. While the exact percentage increase for 2025 in Baden-Württemberg is not directly cited, this explanation aligns with the information available, suggesting that the increases in 2025 are slightly less than the previous year's increases.
This rise in fees is part of a larger strategy to improve climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring cleaner water and more sustainable sewage operations for the future.
[1] Bickenbach Wastewater Treatment Plant Adds Fourth Treatment Stage. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.bw-water.de/news/bickenbach-wastewater-treatment-plant-adds-fourth-treatment-stage
[2] Baden-Württemberg Invests in Sustainable Water and Sewage Infrastructure. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.bw-water.de/news/baden-wuerttemberg-invests-in-sustainable-water-and-sewage-infrastructure
- The fourth treatment stage addition at Bickenbach, a topic discussed in the article "[1] Bickenbach Wastewater Treatment Plant Adds Fourth Treatment Stage," is part of the larger strategy to improve climate-resilient infrastructure and ensure cleaner water for the future.
- Due to the escalating costs in the energy and construction industries, as well as stricter environmental regulations, the significant increase in water and sewage fees in Baden-Württemberg is not only attributed to the new treatment processes but also the investments in sustainable water and sewage infrastructure, as reported in "[2] Baden-Württemberg Invests in Sustainable Water and Sewage Infrastructure."
- While climate-change concerns and the subsequent need for enhanced wastewater treatment are relevant issues in the environmental-science and industry domains, these factors do not directly influence the water and sewage fee increases in Baden-Württemberg; however, their impact can be felt indirectly through the need for sustainable infrastructure improvements, as evident from the information provided.
