Würmtal — A major price hike for water and wastewater services is imminent for thousands of households in Gräfelfing, Planegg, Krailling, and Gauting. As reported by Nicole Kalenda, the Würmtal-Zweckverband assembly has approved a substantial increase in fees, with the most significant impact felt in sewage disposal rates.
Starting January 1, the association is increasing wastewater fees by 58%—from €2.10 to €3.32 per cubic meter. Additionally, a basic annual subscription fee is being introduced for the first time. The water supply tariff will rise by 27%—from €1.68 to €2.13 per cubic meter. Residents will also pay more in basic service charges and connection fees for new construction. The reasons cited for the hikes include increased discharge fees from Munich’s municipal utilities, high construction costs, and rising personnel wages.
Sharp Increase in Wastewater Fees and New Base Charge
The Communal Levies Act mandates a recalculation every four years. Daniel Ulrich from the engineering firm Pecher und Partner, who calculated the new rates, presented the final figures. In the current calculation period, wastewater services incurred a deficit projected to reach €1.97 million by the end of the year.
A decisive cost factor is the fee paid to Munich City Utilities (Stadtwerke München) for sewage treatment. Since Würmtal-Zweckverband does not operate its own treatment plant, water is processed at two of Munich’s urban facilities: Gut Marienhof and Großlappen. “Costs in this sector will rise significantly,” explained Alexander Kruchten, the association’s commercial director. According to him, the nearly €2 million deficit arose primarily because the initial projections for city sewage costs were set too low.
From January 1, customers will pay €3.32 per cubic meter of wastewater instead of the previous €2.10. Furthermore, a basic fee is being introduced for the first time for wastewater, similar to the existing one for water supply. This fee depends on the size of the meter and ranges from €48 to €960 per year, though 95% of all meters fall into the lowest category. Connection fees for new construction will also rise from €10.98 to €11.56 per square meter of floor space.
Water Supply Hikes and the Role of Accumulated Surpluses
Water supply is also becoming noticeably more expensive, rising from €1.68 to €2.13 per cubic meter. While water costs averaged €4.9 million over the past four years, they are now expected to reach €8.5 million. However, the current period yielded a surplus of approximately €3.47 million. “Surpluses must be returned to citizens, just as deficits must be recovered,” explained Ulrich. Without this surplus, the rate would have climbed to approximately €2.40 per cubic meter.
Additionally, residents must account for the so-called “water cent,” which the Bavarian State Parliament approved on December 10 as part of an amendment to the Water Act. From July 2026, suppliers will be required to pay ten cents for every cubic meter of water extracted.
Those building or renovating homes will also face higher costs. The one-time connection fee will increase from €0.41 to €0.54 per square meter of plot area and from €5.85 to €7.29 per square meter of floor space. “Fees are rising everywhere,” noted Ulrich. With a rate of €2.13, Würmtal-Zweckverband remains in the regional mid-range. In wastewater, the trend is clearly heading toward three or even four euros per cubic meter. For comparison, the Starnberger See association is raising sewage fees from €3.60 to €4.52 at the start of the year.
“We must cover our costs,” emphasized Gauting’s Second Mayor, Jürgen Sklarek. Like any other provider, Würmtal-Zweckverband has been hit by rising operating expenses and significant price increases for materials, construction, and repairs. “Construction prices are spiraling out of control,” Kruchten added.
Source: Merkur
