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Last changed: 12/04/13
Living rivers and lakes, intact groundwater sources, secure and functional water supply and sewage treatment systems are the basic prerequisites of sustainable economic development. The climate changes which have been predicted and already occurred will not go unnoticed by the global and regional water balance. Sustainable management of the Earth’s resources which takes the needs of mankind and nature into account appropriately has become one of the greatest environmental policy challenges of this century. The brochure is a publication by the BMU (Federal Environmental Ministry) and UBA. Part 1 "Fundamentals" and Part 2 "Quality of Inland Surface Waters" can be downloaded as PDF files or may be ordered here.
The University of Witten/Herdecke has published The German Water Sector on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency. It illustrates through case studies how water management problems are handled in Germany and also provides comprehensive information.
A new jointly published brochure by the BMU and UBA, Die Wasserrahmenrichtlinie - neues Fundament für den Gewässerschutz in Europa [Water Framework Directive – new foundation for water pollution control in Europe] discusses the goals, challenges and essential principles of the directive. It goes into more detail on citizen involvement, economic aspects, water pollution control, and the necessity of keeping hazardous substances out of waters. Both the abridged and complete version of the brochure may be downloaded or ordered in German here.
Are we on the road to achieving the environmental objectives of the European Water Framework Directive? Will our water resources be in good shape a decade from now? In which realms of water protection have we been successful thus far, and which tasks lie ahead of us? A first step toward answering these questions is provided by the results of the EU-mandated characterization process whereby the German states have assessed environmental pressures on water bodies and the impact of human activity on water resource status. The results are summarised in a booklet titled "Water Framework Directive - Summary of River Basin District Analysis 2004 in Germany". You can download or order (in German language only) the booklet.
More information
Rainwater regularly replenishes our groundwater reservoirs, whereas land sealing and pollution are jeopardizing this. Careful handling of rainwater is therefore one of the most important tasks in the area of water protection. The natural hydrological cycle is at risk in many densely populated regions, and in order to maintain or restore it, new solutions in rainwater treatment must be found. The Federal Environment Agency has therefore compiled essential information in a brochure about the opportunities for better rainwater usage for both man and the environment. The brochure (in German) may be downloaded here.
The H2O-Wissen media database on water (in German) enables extensive research and queries for classroom materials on the topic of the protection of waters.
go to database in German
Anyone looking for ideas and contacts on activities related to water, can find informations in Nachhaltige Wasserwirtschaft und Lokale Agenda 21 [Action Guide on Sustainable Water Management and Local Agenda 21].
In addition to information provided by the Federal Environment Agency there is an extensive list of links to other web sites on the topic of water.