Germany: Healthy Municipal Utilities, but with a Quirk

Abstract

In Germany, more than 6,000 municipally-owned water utilities produce high-quality water that can be drunk from the tap. Leakage accounts for, on average, only 6 % of water production, among the lowest in the world, in large part because the network is regularly renewed. The pipe network is in such good shape that, unlike in countries with a hotter climate and worse infrastructure, there is no risk of recontamination between the treatment plant and the tap. Utilities in many other countries chlorinate drinking water to prevent such recontamination in the distribution network. Germany is one of a few countries in the world that provides safe drinking water without the need for chlorination, and customers appreciate the better taste of the water. According to a survey, 91 % of water customers are satisfied or very satisfied with the service they receive from their local water utility. A high level of service quality and technical excellence are hallmarks of the German water sector, which is well regulated in terms of drinking water quality and pollution.