Correctly billing for rainwater runoff

Rainwater runoff must be billed separately from wastewater and accounted for accordingly. The charges are not based on consumption, but rather on the sealed surface area or living space. Therefore, landlords should amend their rental agreements and simultaneously expand their operating cost statements to ensure accurate billing.

Why does rainwater have to be billed separately?

More and more municipalities are demanding that wastewater fees be billed according to the user's actual usage. This is based on a ruling by the Administrative Court of Mannheim on March 11, 2010. It obliges municipalities in Baden-Württemberg to introduce split wastewater fees.

This means:

• Wastewater will continue to be billed according to fresh water consumption.
• Rainwater must be recorded and billed separately.
• Buildings with large sealed surfaces usually pay higher fees.

The Water Resources Act (§ 55 para. 2) also supports this separation.

What is the purpose of the split wastewater fee?

The separate calculation serves several purposes:

• Cost fairness: Everyone pays according to the amount they caused.
• Use sparingly: Billing based on freshwater consumption promotes water conservation.
• Incentive for rainwater use: Those who allow or use rainwater locally save on fees.

In many regions, this form of billing is already established. Where this is not yet the case, property owners are increasingly being informed and asked to provide area data.

How does the transition work?

The introduction will be carried out gradually by the municipalities. The process is as follows:

• Properties are recorded using aerial photographs and questionnaires.
• Sealed and unsealed surfaces as well as rainwater uses are documented.
• The billing system will then be switched to separate fees.
• Owners will be informed individually about the result and the start time.

Important: This is not a new fee, but rather a division of the existing wastewater fee into two items:

• Wastewater fee: Based on fresh water consumption.
• Stormwater fee: Based on the size of the connected sealed area.

How is rainwater runoff billed?

Billing is not based on water consumption, but on a fixed allocation key. This is usually distributed according to living space or usable area.

For landlords, this means:

• Tenants must be informed about the changeover.
• Rental agreements should be amended.
• The operating cost statement must show the new fee.
• Owners' associations should pass corresponding resolutions regarding the apportionment of costs.

How can stormwater fees be reduced?

Stormwater fees can be reduced through structural measures:

• Breaking up sealed surfaces: e.g. grass pavers instead of asphalt.
• Use rainwater cisterns: For home or garden.
• Allow infiltration: More water remains on the property.
• Check local regulations: Note regional differences in fee collection.

This way you not only save on fees, but also on drinking water.

Conclusion

The obligation to bill for rainwater separately is clearly regulated and therefore applies to all property owners. While the transition initially requires some effort, it also brings greater fairness and ecological benefits.

recommended action

As a landlord, you should now:

• review the rental agreements and amend them if necessary
• Inform your tenants early,
• to add the stormwater fee to the operating cost statement
• Using a service provider like Minol ensures legally compliant billing so that everything runs correctly and transparently.

Minol helps you to carry out the billing of all operating costs efficiently and in compliance with the law.