Probenahme von einem Boot aus auf einem Oberflächengewässer

Water Resources Protection

Groundwater, spring water and surface water are major elements of the natural water cycle, valuable resources and subjects of protection per se. The goal is to protect water resources everywhere against anthropogenic entries and to exclude or minimise measurably present contamination as well as potential hazards.

Taking a water sample; © Foto: DVGW, Roland Horn
Position paper on water resources protection
Groundwater, spring water and surface water are major elements of the natural water cycle, valuable resources and subjects of protection per se. The goal is to protect water resources everywhere against anthropogenic entries and to exclude or minimise measurably present contamination as well as potential hazards. Essential principles to achieve this goal are the precautionary principle, the probihibition of all actions which impair water resource quality and the polluter-pays principle.
Groundwater memorandum
For a secure and durable drinking water supply the groundwater in the catchment area must be protected so that drinking water can be obtained using only natural processes. The groundwater quality is of a special importance for a secure drinking water supply in this case. The Memorandum is supported jointly by eight German, Austrian, Swiss and International Associations.
DVGW Set of Rules

The following standards and guidelines related to Water Resource Protection are translated into English and available as PDF files:

Guidelines on Drinking Water Protection Area, Part I: Groundwater Protection Areas

Guidelines for Drinking Water Protection Areas; Part II: Protection Areas for Dams

Basic principles and measures of water protecting farming

Forest Management and Water Resources Protection

Guidance for the Application of Numerical Groundwater Models in Catchment Areas of Drinking Water Abstraction Points

Monitoring of Groundwater Quality in Water Catchment Areas

Planning, Execution and Analysis of Pumping Tests in Groundwater Development

Design and Construction of Groundwater Monitoring Points