Announcements on environmental law proceedings
The rights of citizens are particularly far-reaching when it comes to environmental protection. The public can exert particular influence on environmentally relevant processes. Access to environmental information must be guaranteed by the public administration.
Two-parter until 2026
Recording of precipitation water discharges into water bodies
The targeted discharge of collected rainwater from built-up or paved areas into a surface water body is a water body utilisation within the meaning of the German Federal Water Act (WHG) and generally requires a corresponding permit under water law from the responsible water authority. Such authorisation may only be granted if the quantity and harmfulness is kept so low that no negative impact on the water body is to be expected.
Only small discharges from individual properties that are not used commercially are exempt from the authorisation requirement (discharges within the scope of residents' and public use).
During water inspections, unknown discharges are repeatedly detected and, in addition, the existing discharge outflows often exceed the quantities compatible with water bodies. For this reason, the Free State of Saxony has issued a decree on the "Adaptation of stormwater discharges from combined and separate sewer systems in the Free State of Saxony to the state of the art - Stormwater Action Concept (HKReWa)", which stipulates that data on existing discharges must first be collected from all dischargers of stormwater and transmitted to the Free State of Saxony via the lower water authorities. The aim is to record all discharges into surface waters that are subject to authorisation in order to initiate targeted measures to relieve the pressure on water bodies and improve the ecological status of water bodies.
Discharges from individual properties not used for commercial purposes are expressly excluded from the survey.
The Lower Water Authority of the City of Chemnitz therefore asks all dischargers to fill out the Excel table, which is available for download below, as completely as possible for each discharge point under the sheet "Data collection" up to column V by 31 December 2025. We also ask you to complete the cover sheet in full.
Please send the completed tables by e-mail to the following address: umweltamt.wasser(at)stadt-chemnitz.de.
More detailed information on the decree of the Free State of Saxony can be found at the following link. The decree sets out further requirements for the future handling of precipitation water discharges into public waters. The exact details can be found in the decree.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the above e-mail address or by telephone on 0371 488-3651.
Participation in the updating of the international management plan for the Elbe river basin district
Citizens have until 22 June 2025 to participate in the update of the international management plan for the Elbe river basin district. The management plan covers the period from 2028 to 2033 and includes important water management issues. The consultation process is currently running in the 1st and 2nd stages. Citizens can send their comments directly to the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe or to the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG).
The International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe can be contacted at the following address:
International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe
Fürstenwallstraße 20
39104 Magdeburg
www.ikse-mkol.org
sekretariat(at)ikse-mkol.org
You can reach the LfULG at the following address:
Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology
Department 4: Water, Soil, Circular Economy
Pillnitzer Platz 3
01326 Dresden
https://www.wasser.sachsen.de/wrrl-aktuelle-anhoerungen.html
Abt4.LfU LG@smekul.sachsen.de
The documents can also be inspected on request at the Environmental Agency of the City of Chemnitz. Please use the following contact to arrange an appointment:
City of Chemnitz, Environmental Agency, Department of Lower Water and Soil Protection Authority
E-mail: umweltamt.wasser(at)stadt-chemnitz.de
Telephone: 0371 488-3651
Further information on the update of the international management plan for the Elbe river basin district, in particular on the comments, can be found in the following documents.