Bavarian Government Unveils WaterCenter Plan Starting From 2026
In mid-2026, Bavaria will introduce a new water tax, known as the "Wasserentnahmeentgelt" or water cent, aimed at funding water protection and sustainable water management measures to secure the region’s drinking water supply [1][5].
The tax will be collected from July 1, 2026, initially for a half-year period from July to December 2026, and then annually from 2027 onward. The fee for the water cent will be ten cents per cubic meter [2].
While the tax will generally apply to citizen water use, it is purpose-bound only to fund water-related environmental measures [1]. Exemptions include water withdrawals for public drinking water supply purposes [1]. However, some sources mention possible exemptions for medical reasons and religious accommodations, but these appear less explicitly documented for the Bavarian water tax [4].
The tax is controversial, as it implies additional costs to citizens and administrative burdens like water meter readings and bureaucratic processing [1][3]. The purpose is officially environmental protection, but some perceive it as an additional financial burden for residents [3][5].
A free allowance of 5,000 cubic meters per year is planned for water suppliers, water associations, users of their own wells, companies, and industry. However, this free allowance does not apply to private households [6]. For an average water consumption of 140 liters per person per day, this equates to around five euros per person per year for private households. But this is not applicable to the free allowance [7].
The water cent will not be billed directly to private individuals, but to the water supplier. The water supplier may then pass the cost onto their customers [8]. The coalition partners CSU and Free Voters agreed on the key points for the new water cent in December after a long dispute [9].
The compromise on the water cent was met with immediate criticism, particularly regarding the different treatment of businesses and private individuals regarding free allowances. Critics argue that this could lead to a disproportionate financial burden on private households [10].
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References: [1] https://www.bayern.de/umwelt/wasser/wasserentnahmeentgelt/wasserentnahmeentgelt-was-das-ist-1396744 [2] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wasserentnahmeentgelt-1.50-euro-pro-kubikmeter-1.5618836 [3] https://www.merkur.de/bayern/wasserentnahmeentgelt-kritik-1.5618836 [4] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wasserentnahmeentgelt-kritik-1.5618836 [5] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wasserentnahmeentgelt-kritik-1.5618836 [6] https://www.bayern.de/umwelt/wasser/wasserentnahmeentgelt/wasserentnahmeentgelt-was-das-ist-1396744 [7] https://www.bayern.de/umwelt/wasser/wasserentnahmeentgelt/wasserentnahmeentgelt-was-das-ist-1396744 [8] https://www.bayern.de/umwelt/wasser/wasserentnahmeentgelt/wasserentnahmeentgelt-was-das-ist-1396744 [9] https://www.bayern.de/umwelt/wasser/wasserentnahmeentgelt/wasserentnahmeentgelt-was-das-ist-1396744 [10] https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/wasserentnahmeentgelt-kritik-1.5618836 [11] https://www.955ourwebsite.com/newsletter/signup
- The controversial water tax, known as the "Wasserentnahmeentgelt" or water cent, aimed at funding water protection measures, is also aimed at securing the region's drinking water supply by supporting environmental-science initiatives.
- Businesses in Bavaria, facing the new water tax, might find themselves investing more in climate-change mitigation strategies as a part of their corporate social responsibility, as the tax specifically funds water-related environmental measures.
- With an average water consumption of 140 liters per person per day, private households might end up paying around five euros per person per year for the water cent due to the free allowance exemptions for companies and industry, leading to a potential financial imbalance in their annual expenses compared to businesses.
