Condition of the Sewer System in Bavaria - Data as of 2024
The public sewer system is a critical piece of infrastructure that is largely invisible to the public. With approximately 110,000 km of sewer lines, it ensures the safe disposal of wastewater in Bavaria and plays a key role in protecting the environment, water bodies, quality of life, and clean drinking water.
At the same time, the age and condition of the sewer networks pose major challenges for local governments. A well-maintained sewer system is essential for soil and groundwater protection and helps prevent operational problems. Regular inspections and timely rehabilitation are crucial to ensuring the long-term functionality of the infrastructure.
Funding provided by:
- Bavarian State Office for the Environment – LfU
- Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection – StMUV
Project period:
2025–2026
People involved:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rita Hilliges
, M.Eng. Isabella Campestre
Contact via:
wasser(at)hs-augsburg.de
As part of the research project, the condition of the public sewer system as of 2024 was assessed, along with any potential changes in the situation compared to recent years. The focus was on creating an automated database to serve as the basis for analyzing and evaluating the available DABay data. DABay serves to systematically collect and analyze data on the public sewer system in Bavaria and thus provides an important foundation for the statewide assessment of the sewer system. Furthermore, data from an information campaign conducted by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU) was incorporated into the analysis.
The results are compared with earlier surveys from 2006, 2012, and 2018; trends are identified; and future challenges—including the corresponding investment amounts required to maintain Bavaria’s sewer system—are determined.
The goal is to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the condition of the public sewer system in Bavaria and the resulting investment needs.
Preliminary results show that Bavaria’s sewer system is increasingly characterized by aging infrastructure. By 2024, approximately 37% of the collection sewers were already more than 40 years old. To ensure long-term maintenance of the infrastructure, continuous inspection of the sewer network and an increase in rehabilitation activities are necessary.