The Wolfsburg model of wastewater recycling stands for wastewater recycling management and the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture.
The light soils in the north of Wolfsburg require summer irrigation, as the natural water supply and the natural water retention capacity of the soils are not sufficient for agricultural use without irrigation. The groundwater resources in this area are already being exploited to the limit of possible use, and the expansion of resources through the reuse of treated wastewater is necessary to maintain agriculture.

REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse aims to address water scarcity and the increasing pressure on water resources by promoting the reuse of treated urban wastewater.

With the decisions of 15.04. and 16.04.2025, Wolfsburger Entwässerungsbetriebe and Abwasserverband Wolfsburg were approved for the production and irrigation of treated water for agricultural irrigation respectively.

In accordance with Article 10 of the EU Regulation, Member States shall ensure that adequate and up-to-date information on water reuse is made available to the public online or by other means.

Informing the public about water reuse

In accordance with Article 10 of REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse, appropriate and up-to-date information on water reuse must be made available to the public.
The City of Wolfsburg fulfills this obligation as the approval authority and publishes the following information

(a) Quantity and quality of treated water supplied under this Ordinance:

The Wolfsburg drainage companies provide the Wolfsburg wastewater association with fully purified municipal wastewater of quality class C for wastewater irrigation in line with plant requirements. The multi-barrier system achieves quality class B.
In irrigation year 2025, 1.77 million m³ was used for wastewater irrigation to meet plant requirements.

b) Percentage of treated water supplied in the Member State in accordance with this Regulation in relation to the total volume of treated municipal wastewater, where data is available:

The Lower Water Authority of the City of Wolfsburg has no corresponding data.

c) Permits issued or modified in accordance with REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, including the conditions set by the competent authorities in accordance with Article 6(3) of this Regulation:

The authorizations granted can be downloaded below.

d) Result of the compliance checks carried out in accordance with Article 7(1) of REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL:

All monitoring and limit values were complied with. No exceedances were detected in the irrigation year 2025.

e) Contact points in accordance with Article 8(1) of REGULATION (EU) 2020/741 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL:

As water reuse by Abwasserverband Wolfsburg is not of transboundary significance, no contact point needs to be designated.

Permits:

For more information and if you have any questions, feel free to contact: