Waste water and water bodies

Sewage disposal

In the urban area of Bocholt, the disposal of wastewater and rainwater is carried out using both the combined and the separate system.

In the separation process, which exists mainly in the outlying districts of Bocholt, the rainwater is piped to the nearest receiving watercourse. Only the foul water is led to the municipal sewage treatment plant.

In contrast, in the mixed system all wastewater is led to the sewage treatment plant.

In the city of Bocholt, connection and use are compulsory with regard to the discharge of wastewater and stormwater. On application, however, the obligation to connect to the sewer system can be waived for rainwater if it can be infiltrated on the property to be drained without causing damage (waiver of the operator to transfer the rainwater).

The connection to the public sewerage system is subject to approval. In the course of the building permit procedure for a planned construction project, the drainage permit is also granted. It is therefore not necessary to apply separately for drainage for the building project. Exceptions to this are commercial enterprises. In these cases, an information meeting between the building owner and the contact person named below should take place in any case.

Legal basis

That's what it costs

The costs are laid down in the statutes of the city of Bocholt on fees for the use of public sewage systems.

Waste water investigations

A pollution surcharge is to be paid for commercial wastewater, the discharge and purification of which causes special costs for the city of Bocholt. In order to determine this surcharge, the corresponding wastewater is examined several times a year.

What is being examined?

The waste water from the relevant commercial enterprises is tested six times a year by an independent institute.

The following values are measured:

• Chemical oxygen demand (COD)
• Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5)
• Phosphorus, total (P)
• Total nitrogen (TKN)

The pollution value used as a basis is the mean value of the 6 test results. The results are sent to the companies concerned without being requested.

Legal basis

Indirect discharger

Waste water from industrial and commercial enterprises may only contain as few hazardous substances at the point of discharge into the public sewer as is possible according to the state of the art. The District of Borken as the "Lower Water Authority" is responsible for the approval and monitoring of discharges.

What needs to be considered?

Information can be obtained from the district of Borken at the following website: www.kreis-borken.de

Legal basis

Waste water disposal in outdoor areas

The wastewater from small sewage treatment plants and drainless pits is disposed of by the city of Bocholt.

The wastewater disposal obligation of the city of Bocholt also refers to the wastewater from small sewage treatment plants and non-draining pits in outdoor areas. In order to feed this wastewater to the municipal sewage treatment plant, the city of Bocholt has commissioned a special disposal company with this task.

The sewage sludge from small sewage treatment plants is removed once a year, and from pits without drainage as required. Excluded from the municipal disposal are agricultural businesses whose wastewater is applied to their own farmland in compliance with the applicable waste and soil protection regulations.

In this case, the obligation to dispose of wastewater has been transferred to the landowner by the competent authority. Further information on this can be obtained from the district of Borken (Lower Water Authority) at www.kreis-borken.de.

Legal basis