At TZW: DVGW-Technologiezentrum Wasser (German Water Centre) water is the focus of all activities. The sustainable protection of water resources and innovative solutions for drinking water supply and waste water disposal are core elements. In cooperation with leading international water research institutes, TZW considers itself as a driving force in the development of sustainable concepts for the future of water supply. Our expertise is based on the results of almost 50 research projects annually that are funded by national or international funding bodies and agencies.

The mission statement reflects the essential values of our activities.

Our more than 1,000 customers come from the water supply sector, industry, authorities and universities. We develop new and sustainable concepts for them in close interaction between science and practice. Our interdisciplinary teams are experts working in the areas of environmental biotechnology and contaminated sites, groundwater and soil, analysis and water quality, technology and economics, microbiology and molecular biology, water chemistry research, the test centre and corrosion as well as distribution networks and household installations. Approximately 200 highly qualified staff members from the specialist fields of chemistry, biology, physics, environmental science, process engineering and materials science work in application-oriented research and scientific consultation.

The annual budget of approx. 18 million euro comes primarily from research funding, practical research contracts and technical and scientific studies. TZW is part of DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) and a non-profit and independent institution. TZW emerged in 1991 from the DVGW Research Centre at the Engler-Bunte Institute of today's KIT of the University of Karlsruhe. The founding fathers were Prof. Sontheimer, Prof. Ulmer and Prof. Kühn, who headed the TZW for many years.

We have compiled the most important steps in the past 30 years in the chronicle “TZW’s history”. 

All essential information about TZW, figures and data, fields of activity and projects can be found compactly in the current annual report for reading or downloading. You can order it and other publications online here.

We are accredited according to the international standard DIN EN ISO 17025 for our extensive analysis and testing work.