Water costs in Germany 2026: an overview
Water costs in Germany consist of two main components: the drinking water price and the wastewater charges. On average, German households pay about €4.50 to €5.50 per cubic metre (m³) for both together in 2026.
Our calculator lets you work out your annual water costs precisely – based on your actual consumption and the regional prices of your federal state. An average four-person household uses about 160 m³ of water a year and pays €700–900 for it, including the base fee.
Water prices by federal state – overview 2026
| Federal state | Drinking water €/m³ | Wastewater €/m³ | Total €/m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (guide value) | approx. €2.18 | approx. €2.36 | approx. €4.54 |
| Berlin (2025) | €1.81 | €2.16 | €3.97 |
| Hesse (2025) | €2.59 | €2.75 | €5.34 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia (1 Jan 2025) | €1.86 | €3.21 | €5.07 |
| Saxony-Anhalt (1 Jan 2025) | €2.01 | €3.45 | €5.46 |
State figures: consumption-based charges according to the state statistical offices (2025 survey; guide values where no state survey is available), excluding base fees and surface-water (rainwater) charges. The figure for Germany is a guide value. Prices vary greatly from one municipality to the next – your charges notice (Gebührenbescheid) is what counts. Page last updated: October 2026.
Saving on water costs: the complete guide
What makes up the water price?
- Drinking water (consumption price): approx. €1.80–2.60/m³ – varies greatly from one municipality to another
- Wastewater (sewage): approx. €2.20–3.50/m³ – based on drinking water consumption
- Base fee: €80–200 per year – for the water meter and connection
- Rainwater (surface water): Only for sealed surfaces, €0.50–1.50/m²
Average water consumption in Germany
- Per person: About 125–130 litres a day (= 46 m³ a year)
- One-person household: 30–50 m³ a year
- Two-person household: 70–100 m³ a year
- Four-person household: 140–180 m³ a year
10 tips to save water (and money)
- Water-saving shower head: Cuts consumption by up to 50%
- Toilet flush: A cistern with a stop button saves 3–4 litres per flush
- Fully load the washing machine: Don't run it half empty
- Dishwasher instead of washing up by hand: Saves up to 50% water
- Repair dripping taps: Losses of up to 5,000 litres a year
- Collect rainwater: Use it to water the garden
- When brushing your teeth: Turning off the tap saves 15 litres
- Shower briefly instead of taking a bath: A bath needs 150–200 litres, a shower 50–80 litres
- Modern appliances: A+++ appliances use up to 40% less
- Check your water meter: Regularly check for leaks
Why do water prices differ so much?
The regional differences in water prices have several causes:
- Water availability: Regions with groundwater are cheaper than those that rely on long-distance water supply
- Settlement structure: Rural areas have longer pipe networks = higher costs
- Topography: Hilly regions need more pumping stations
- Age of the infrastructure: The need for renovation pushes prices up
- Municipal calculation: Cities and municipalities set their own charges
Understanding your water bill: who sets the prices?
Unlike electricity or gas, you cannot switch your water supplier in Germany. Supply is a local monopoly, and prices are set either as public-law charges under the municipal levy acts of the federal states or as private-law tariffs. Private-law tariffs are governed by the Ordinance on General Conditions for the Supply of Water (AVBWasserV). Which form your supplier uses is stated in your municipality's by-law or in its general terms of supply.
Charges are subject to the principles of cost coverage and equivalence: the supplier may not collect more than operation actually costs, and the amount must be reasonably proportionate to the service. For private-law prices, the state cartel authority additionally checks whether a supplier abuses its market position. Water quality is regulated separately in the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV); it matters for costs only indirectly, because treatment and laboratory tests feed into the calculation.
Wastewater charges are usually based on fresh water consumption: every cubic metre that passes through your meter is assumed to enter the sewer. Many municipalities charge rainwater separately according to the sealed area of the property (split wastewater charge). This is why the prices in the table above exclude rainwater and base fees: on your actual bill these items come on top.
Worked examples using the calculator's values
A two-person household in Berlin using 80 m³ a year pays, with the stored prices of €1.81 for drinking water and €2.16 for wastewater, €3.97 per m³ in total, or €317.60 in usage costs. With a base fee of €120 that comes to €437.60 a year, just under €37 a month. A four-person household using 160 m³ in North Rhine-Westphalia (€1.86 plus €3.21) already pays €811.20 plus the base fee, around €931. In Hesse (€2.59 plus €2.75) the same consumption costs €854.40 plus the base fee, about €974.
The difference between the states arises almost entirely from the wastewater charge rather than from drinking water itself. With the national guide figure of €4.54 per m³, every cubic metre you save is worth €4.54. A household that uses 15 m³ less a year thanks to a water-saving shower head and aerators saves about €68, and for hot water the energy cost of heating comes on top. Note that all values in the calculator are annual averages; your own charges notice may differ considerably depending on the municipality, and mid-year price changes are applied pro rata.
Tenants, owners and garden water: who pays what?
Tenants normally pay water and drainage as service charges. Both items are listed in the Service Charges Ordinance (BetrKV, section 2 nos. 2 and 3) and may be passed on if the tenancy agreement provides for it. Hot water is also billed under the Heating Costs Ordinance. The landlord must deliver the statement no later than twelve months after the end of the billing period (section 556(3) of the Civil Code); after that, additional claims are generally excluded. Check that the meter readings are right and that the allocation key – consumption or floor area – matches your tenancy agreement.
Owners can save money if they use a lot of water in the garden: in most municipalities, water that demonstrably does not reach the sewer need not be paid for as wastewater. To claim this, install your own calibrated garden water meter and apply to the municipality for the deduction. Cold-water meters must be replaced every six years (calibration period under the Measures and Verification Ordinance). With 20 m³ of garden water and a wastewater price of €2.36 you save roughly €47 a year; set against that are the purchase and installation of the meter, which usually pays for itself within a few years.
You can object to a charges notice within one month of its notification. This is worthwhile above all if meter readings are plainly wrong, if there is a leak before the meter, or if the sealed area for rainwater was measured incorrectly. Keep meter photos and earlier notices; in a dispute they are your most important evidence.
Frequently asked questions about water costs
In Germany, 1 m³ of drinking water costs an average of €2.18. On top of that come wastewater charges of about €2.36/m³. In total you therefore pay around €4.50–5.50 per cubic metre including wastewater. One cubic metre is equal to 1,000 litres of water.
A five-minute shower uses about 50–70 litres of water. At a total price of €4.50/m³, that comes to 22–32 cents for the water alone. If you add the cost of heating the water (gas/electricity), a further 30–60 cents is added – so a shower costs 50–90 cents in total.
A four-person household uses an average of 140–180 cubic metres of water per year (approx. 400–500 litres a day). At a total price of €4.50/m³ plus a €120 base fee, this results in annual costs of roughly €750–930.
The base fee (also called the meter fee) is a fixed amount that is payable regardless of consumption. It covers the cost of the water meter, the house connection and the infrastructure. Typically it is €80–200 per year, depending on meter size and municipality.
Wastewater charges cover the cost of the sewer system, treatment plants and wastewater treatment. They are usually calculated from drinking water consumption, because it is assumed that used water ends up as wastewater. The wastewater charge is often higher than the drinking water price.
Yes, water prices keep rising – by about 5% a year on average. The reasons are rising energy costs for pumping and treatment, the need to renovate pipe networks, and falling groundwater levels caused by climate change. Further moderate increases are expected for 2026.
According to the guide above, a dripping tap loses up to 5,000 litres a year, i.e. 5 m³. At the national guide figure of €4.54 per m³ that is about €23 a year. A running toilet cistern is much more expensive: if it goes unnoticed, the extra consumption can add up to several tens of cubic metres. Check your meter once a quarter while all consumers are switched off – if it keeps turning, you have a leak.
No. Drinking water supply is a local monopoly, and a municipality may impose compulsory connection and use in its by-law. You can influence your costs only through consumption, a garden water meter or by checking your charges notice. For private-law prices you can also contact the state cartel authority if you consider the prices excessive.
For hot water, the Heating Costs Ordinance requires billing by consumption. For cold water, section 556a(1) of the Civil Code requires recorded consumption to be allocated by a key that reflects different usage – so where meters exist, billing is by consumption. If there are none, costs may be allocated by floor area or number of occupants if the tenancy agreement says so. If in doubt, seek advice from a tenants' association.
