An institution of DVGW

Risk management

According to the EU-Drinking Water Directive, European water suppliers are obligated, among other things, to implement continuous risk management for water supply facilities. At TZW, we support water suppliers in setting up such a risk management system in accordance with DIN-EN 15975-2, drawing on our many years of experience: For over 20 years, risk management in water supply has been a central focus of our research and consulting projects.

Modular structure of the TZW_Risk concept
Figure 2. TZW-concept TZW_RISK.

Figure 1. TZW offers support in risk management for water supply systems, covering all steps of the water supply chain, from catchment to consumers.

We offer support in risk management for the whole water supply chain, covering all steps from catchment area to consumers (Fig. 1). The scope and level of detail can be tailored to the water supplier’s preferences and to local requirements. The process (Fig. 2) is carried out in close coordination with the utility company involved.

Risk management process step by step

Figure 2. The Risk Management Process step by step.

What do we offer?

  • Risk management systems for the entire supply system in accordance with §34 TrinkwV and DIN EN 15975-2 or DVGW W1001 (M) 
  • Special case:  Risk management in the catchment area in accordance with TrinkwEGV or DVGW-Information Wasser No. 105
  • Development and support for the introduction of risk management in water supply companies 
  • Proposals for adapting or maintaining the monitoring plan in accordance with TrinkwV § 37
  • Our work is based, among other things, on:
    • Drinking Water Ordinance (“Trinkwasserverordnung”, TrinkwV), especially §34 and §35 TrinkwV, 
    • Drinking Water Catchment Areas Ordinance (“Trinkwassereinzugsgebieteverordnung, TrinkwEGV)
    • DIN EN 15975-2: Security of drinking water supply - Guidelines for risk and crisis management - Part 2: Risk management (December 2013)
    • DVGW W1001 (M): Security in drinking water supply - Risk and crisis management (November 2020)
    • DVGW-Information WASSER No. 105: Security in drinking water supply - Risk management in normal operation for catchment areas of groundwater wells for drinking water abstraction (January 2021)
    • DVGW W1004 (A): Assessment of Drinking Water Catchment Areas according to Drinking Water Catchment Areas Ordinance (August 2024)

 

Methods and equipment
  • Data analysis and scientific  evaluations, document review
  • Analyses of water quality data
  • Site and facility inspections, meetings with authorities & stakeholder workshops
  • Geographic Information Systeme (GIS) for analyses of water catchments (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS)
  • Expertise in accordance with TrinkwV § 35 or TrinkwEGV § 13 (Documentation of relevant university education, professional experience, or training is available)
Publications

Willmitzer, H.; Brauer, F.; Sturm, S. (2025): Risiken für die Wasserqualität einer Trinkwassertalsperre - was ist wirklich wichtig? In: WasserWirtschaft 115, Heft 2-3, S. 106-109. https://www.springerprofessional.de/link/50766744. 

 

Müller, B. M.; Vollmer, T.; Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Brenner, S.; Simon, N. (2024): Risikomanagement: Wie eine praxisnahe Umsetzung der neuen Trinkwassereinzugsgebieteverordnung aussehen kann. DVGW energie | wasser-praxis, Ausgabe 5/2024.

 

Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Fischer, T; Brauer, T.; Kawerau, L. (2024): Umsetzung des Risikomanagements für Trinkwassereinzugsgebiete. In: wwt wasserwirtschaft wassertechnik 7/8, S. 16ff.

 

Huber, L.; Vollmer, T.; Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Rickert, B.; Damons, M. (2023): Integrated Climate-resilient Water And Sanitation Safety Planning In Southern Africa: Baseline For Developing A Holistic Approach. Posterpräsentation bei der 19. IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technologies (LET), 24.-28.06.2024, Essen.

 

Sturm, S.; Brauer, F.; Hegewald, T.; Freier, K.: (2022) Risk Assessment and Implementing Risk Management for a Complex Drinking Water Reservoir-System in Saxony, Germany. Water Safety Conference 2022. Narvik 22-24 June 2022. Conference Proceedings. pp. 97-98; Editors: International Water Association (IWA), World Health Organization (WHO), UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

 

Rickert, B.; Zügner, V.; Sturm, S.; Brauer, F. (2022): Germany’s Way to WSP Through Policy Actions and Technical Standards. Water Safety Conference 2022. Narvik 22-24 June 2022. Conference Proceedings. pp. 66-68; Editors: International Water Association (IWA), World Health Organization (WHO), UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

 

Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Kaupe, M.; Schiffman, S. (2022): Risk Assessment for Groundwater Catchment Areas. Water Safety Conference 2022. Narvik 22-24 June 2022. Conference Proceedings. pp. 101-102; Editors: International Water Association (IWA), World Health Organization (WHO), UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

 

Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Fischer, T.; Gottwalt, J.; Hahne, L. (2022): Web-Based Software Application for Risk Management of Drinking-Water Supplies. Water Safety Conference 2022. Narvik 22-24 June 2022. Conference Proceedings. pp. 124-125; Editors: International Water Association (IWA), World Health Organization (WHO), UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

 

Brauer, F.; Sturm, S.; Kaupe, M.; Schiffmann, S. (2019): Mehrwert des Risikomanagements für den Wasserversorger. DVGW energie | wasser-praxis 12/2019, 53-55.

 

Sturm, S. (2017):  Sicherheit in der Trinkwasserversorgung – Water Safety Plans als Instrument zum Risikomanagement. In: Risiken in der Wasserversorgung. Stuttgarter Berichte zur Siedlungswasserwirtschaft., Bd. 235, 35-46.

 

Brauer, F.; Bethmann, D.; Kaupe, M.; Schiffmann, S. (2015): Risikomanagement für ein Kölner Wasserwerk. DVGW energie | wasser-praxis (6), S. 42–50.

 

Umweltbundesamt (UBA) und TZW [Hg.]; Schmoll, O.; Bethmann, D.; Sturm, S.; Schnabel, B. (2014): Das Water-Safety-Plan-Konzept: Ein Handbuch für kleine Wasserversorgungen. Dessau-Roßlau. https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/374/publikationen/wps-handbuch-web.pdf.

Contact

Dipl.-Geoökol. Sebastian Sturm +49 721 9678-200 Send email
 
Dipl.-Geoökol. Friederike Brauer +49 721 9678-286 Send email
 
Dr. Birgit Maria Müller +49 721 9678-290 +49 721 9678-102 Send email
 

Projects

3D Icon computer, data, digital
Finding the ideal data sources online can be challenging. Source: Pixabay - Merhan Saeed
How to integrate climate aspects into risk management (RisTkli)

The amended German Drinking Water Ordinance requires water suppliers to implement risk management, explicitly calling for the consideration of risks…

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Sampling of groundwater
Sampling of groundwater
Assessment of nitrate contamination in groundwater (ArNO)

The revision of nitrate comtaminated areas (so-called "Rote Gebiete") is currently the subject of debate. In some areas, farmers and water suppliers…

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[Translate to English:]
[Translate to English:]
Impact of climate change on groundwater availability in Germany (GW-Impact)

To investigate the increasing spatio-temporal variability of groundwater recharge in the future, both locally and regionally, and its specific effects…

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