The obligation to dispose of wastewater in Gera has been transferred to the "Mittleres Elstertal" water/wastewater association. For sites that are not or not yet connected to a public sewage system on the wastewater side, the wastewater disposal obligation can be transferred to third parties. The transfer of the wastewater disposal obligation to third parties requires the approval of the water authority. This involves the granting of a permit under water law to discharge the domestic wastewater treated in a small wastewater treatment plant into a body of water (watercourse/groundwater). Permission to discharge wastewater is always granted for a limited period of time so that it is possible to react to changed circumstances or requirements after this period has expired.

Wastewater and small sewage treatment plants

A small wastewater treatment plant is a wastewater treatment plant where the daily wastewater production does not exceed 8 m³ and which is used for the property-related wastewater treatment and drainage of a maximum of 50 residents.

Wastewater is defined as both wastewater and the collected and discharged rainwater. Wastewater can be discharged both into the public sewer (indirect discharge) and directly into a body of water (direct discharge).

Wastewater may only be discharged into a body of water (groundwater and surface water) if its pollutant load has been reduced to the minimum possible in a treatment plant in accordance with the generally recognized rules of technology. The requirements that must be complied with when discharging wastewater into a body of water are specified in the Wastewater Ordinance in corresponding annexes. As a special case, the generally recognized rules of technology for the treatment of domestic wastewater in small wastewater treatment plants are laid down in DIN 4261.

The wastewater produced in a small wastewater treatment plant must be treated using a biological treatment stage. Various technologies are possible (SBR, fixed bed, submersible and trickling filter plants). Alternatively, the construction of constructed wetlands may also be permitted.

The constructed small wastewater treatment plant can be put into operation after the acceptance of use has been carried out by the water authority.
Regular inspections by the operator are necessary to ensure the proper operation of a small wastewater treatment plant. The permit also stipulates that the small wastewater treatment plant must be maintained by an approved maintenance company.

The discharge of rainwater from individual residential properties (single-family homes) outside of water protection areas, medicinal spring protection areas, water reservation areas and outside of contaminated and suspected contaminated sites and areas with harmful soil changes is not subject to a permit. Otherwise, a permit under water law from the water authority is also required here.
If precipitation water is to be discharged into a body of water, the discharge point (discharge structure) must be approved by the water authority.

A fee is charged for the water law permit in accordance with the Thuringian administrative cost regulations. The amount of the fee depends on the size of the facility and the period of validity.

Wastewater from special areas of origin

The discharge of commercial/industrial wastewater from areas of origin for which the Wastewater Ordinance (AbwV) stipulates requirements for the quality of the wastewater at the discharge point (into a body of water), at the point of origin or before mixing with other wastewater into a body of water or into a public wastewater treatment plant requires permission or approval from the water authority.

For wastewater from the areas of origin of the

• Annex 49 of the AbwV - "Wastewater containing mineral oil",
• Annex 50 of the AbwV - "Dental treatment",
• Annex 52 of the AbwV - "Chemical cleaning",
• Annex 53 of the AbwV - "Photographic processes"
• and from wastewater facilities approved under building law can be replaced by a notification to the water authority if certain conditions are met.

For discharges of commercial wastewater for which no requirements are specified in the Wastewater Ordinance and which do not fall under the above notification obligation, contractual agreements may be required with the "Mittleres Elstertal" water/wastewater association in accordance with the drainage statutes (e.g. for grease separators or wastewater containing mineral oil with a discharge volume < 1 m³ /d)

The indirect discharger permit is subject to a fee.
There are no fees for the notification in general. Only if the notification results in the need to impose water protection requirements will costs be incurred in accordance with No. 1.1 of the Thuringian General Administrative Cost Regulations, depending on the time required

Wastewater self-monitoring

Operators of wastewater treatment plants

• for municipal wastewater (discharge > 8 m³ /d or > 50 population equivalents)
• and of wastewater plants for which an indirect discharger permit has been issued in accordance with § 59 ThürWG must submit an annual self-inspection report to the lower water authority in accordance with the Wastewater Self-Monitoring Ordinance.

control ordinance to the lower water authority.

The self-inspection carried out (maintenance, testing, prescribed measurements) must be documented in this report.

Forms available via the Thuringian State Administration Office.

Rainwater

The discharge of precipitation water into surface waters or into the groundwater through infiltration is also a use of water that requires a permit. The application for a permit must be submitted to the lower water authority.

There are also exceptions to the permit requirement in Thuringia. Outside of water protection areas, medicinal spring protection areas, water reservation areas, contaminated or suspected contaminated sites and areas with harmful soil changes, a permit is not required if the precipitation water is infiltrated, rained on or trickled away.

If precipitation water is to be discharged into a body of water, the discharge point (discharge structure) must be approved by the water authority.

A fee is charged for the water law permit in accordance with the Thuringian administrative cost regulations.