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    • Labormitarbeiter an einem LC-MS-Analysegeräte
      Water analysis Conducting and evaluating physical-chemical and microbiological water testing in accordance with German Drinking Water Ordinance and other regulations.
    • Test centre and product testing
      Testing of products and devices Initial testing of products and materials in contact with drinking water. The test centre is accredited for more than 200 product standards.
    • Two employees in front of a test facility
      Treatment technologies Develop sustainable water supply concepts. Implement, monitor and optimise new technologies. Test and further develop existing treatment methods.
    • Employee next to a bio-analyser
      Micropollutants and microorganisms Development and improvement of determination procedures. Investigating occurrence, behaviour and fate of inorganic and organic trace substances.
    • Flushing the drinking water network, starting from a car
      Network management and drinking water installation Advice on safeguarding the quality of drinking water in the distribution system, support in the development of specific network management strategies.
    • Well for drinking water production
      Risk management Supporting water supply companies in setting up continuous risk management for water supply facilities, based on our comprehensive expertise.
    • Employees in front of screens with graphics
      Drinking water catchments and resources Protection of drinking water resources by assessing potential hazards in water catchment areas, catalogues of measures, monitoring concepts, databases.
    • Employee at test columns
      Environmental biotechnology and contaminated sites Environmental biotechnology to improve water quality. Degradation processes for water purification. Concepts and studies for pollutant contamination.
    • Hände arbeiten an Laptop
      Digitalisation Solving complex questions and problems of water supply companies in digitalisation through technical support or practical research projects.
    • Water pipes
      Practical projects Research and practice, water supply, scientific and technical expertise, technology concepts, resource protection, distribution network, digitalisation.
  • Research
    •  Employee measuring field
      Resource protection Sustainable resource protection as an important factor for safe drinking water supply, management of hazards and risks in water catchment areas.
    • Employee works on test columns
      Environmental biotechnology Technical and biological methods for the elimination of microorganisms, microbiological degradation processes, risk assessment of microbial contamination.
    • Sample is placed in a bioanalyser
      Microorganisms Application and development of reliable detection methods for microorganisms in drinking water, evaluation of disinfection and treatment measures.
    •  Employee works on analytical column and liquid chromatograph
      Micropollutants Reliable and sensitive determination of trace substances and microplastics, investigation of the behaviour in the water cycle, qualified risk assessment.
    • Employee fills samples on test columns filled with sand
      Waste water and water cycle Development of integrated water supply and waste water disposal concepts, Utilisation of biodegradation processes to eliminate persistent substances.
    • Employee in front of a computer using a colony counter
      New technologies and products Technologies and products for the treatment, disinfection and post-treatment of drinking water, testing for performance, safety and robustness.
    •  Two employees at a test stand for water distribution
      Asset management and infrastructure Development of asset management strategies to ensure a stable supply of high-quality drinking water, assessment of the condition of pipeline networks.
    • LAN connector with fibre optics
      Digitalisation and Management Digitalisation in the areas of data collection, data management, data-driven applications and AI for the water supply.
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      TZW building, Hagsfeld site
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An institution of DVGW
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  • Testing of products and devices

Testing of materials and products

A wide variety of materials and products are used in water supply, drinking water installation, firefighting and in the water and waste water industry. For many of these products there are national and international standards, that specify requirements for the functionality and safety of the products. The quality of materials for drinking water are also subject to strict requirements to ensure that human health is not affected or that the odour or taste of the water are not changed.

We offer our customers tests pursuant to more than 200 different product standards, for which we are accredited according to DIN EN ISO 17025. Each product test, the detailed testing procedure and set up will be discussed and specified individually with our customers. In addition we develop customized test programmes for products that are not yet standardised or develop pre-standardisation projects with our customers. In these activities, TZW works closely with DVGW CERT GmbH as well as with other international certification companies. Furthermore, TZW is active in national and international standardisation work.

What do we offer?

Hygienic and microbiological tests according to KTW-BWGL and other UBA documents

We offer hygienic suitability tests of products and materials in contact with drinking water in accordance with the evaluation criteria and guidelines of the German Environment Agency UBA (e.g. KTW-BWGL, Enamel and Ceramics BWGL, Silicone transitional recommendation). In addition, hygiene tests are carried out pursuant to other European and international standards. This includes testing the metal release of metallic materials as well as testing cement-bound materials, thread-cutting compounds, solders, fluxes and cleaning agents.

On 21 March 2019, the UBA published the evaluation  criteria for plastics and other organic materials in contact with drinking water (KTW-BWGL). The KTW-BWGL replaces gradually the previous KTW guidelines for organic materials. Since 21 March 2021 it is legally binding for plastics, organic coatings and lubricants.  In March 2022 elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers have also been included in  the KTW-BWGL. The KTW-BWGL will become legally binding for these materials as of 01 July 2026. We have published further information in a separate article (link to article) An information sheet (in English) shows the test procedure within the KTW hygiene certification (link to information sheet).

The test centre at TZW is accredited as a test centre according to DIN EN 17025 for testing according to the KTW-BWGL. In addition, it provides inspectors who are commissioned by the certification body to carry out the technical audits as part of the initial inspection of the plant and the annual monitoring audits.

The test centre is also prepared for testing in accordance with future EU regulations.

Flyer: TZW SHORT INFO - The New EU-Regulation for Materials and Products in Contact with Drinking Water (pdf file)

Contact:
Dr. Johannes Ruppert Tel. +49 721 93163-51, Send e-mail

Pipes and fittings in water distribution and drinking water installations

In addition to a wide variety of product groups such as shut-off valves, tapping bridges, hydrants, check valves, membrane expansion vessels, water meters and sanitary fittings, drinking water heaters, devices for protecting drinking water, and emergency safety showers are also tested according to international standards. Our test range also covers corrugated pipes, pressure-resistant hose lines as well as pipes and pipe connectors. Resistance coefficients (zeta values), which we determine for every component, play a key role in proper planning of a drinking water installation.

Contact:
Stefan Zimmer Tel. +49 721 93163-66, Send e-mail

Systems and equipment for drinking water treatment

Due to the clear comfort trend of individual post-treatment of drinking water there is an increasing demand for the testing of softener, dosing devices and limescale protection systems. These are tested at TZW according to current European standards. This also includes treatment systems for canteen kitchens. In addition we also offer solutions for individual test programmes for products, processes and methods that have not yet been standardised in order to test them for technical and hygienic safety.

Contact:
Heiko Delong Tel. +49 721 93163-20, Send e-mail

UV disinfection devices, UV sensors and UV lamps

In current practice, only mercury-vapour lamps are used to disinfect water. A distinction is made between UV low-pressure lamps and UV medium-pressure vapour lamps. We have test setups that allow us to validate UV devices with a throughput of up to 3,500 m3/h using various test organisms. In addition, our optoelectronic equipment enables us to conduct ageing tests on UV lamps, their characterisation and the qualification of UV sensors. In future, UV LED technology will also be further developed for use in water disinfection, which is why we are already offering specific testing programmes and approaches.

Contact:
Dr. Jutta Eggers, Tel. +49 721 93163-52, Send e-mail

Fire-fighting equipment and fire-fighting facilities

Our testing services also encompass products from fields of work adjacent to drinking water. This includes, for example, the entire extinguishing water sector. Thus the essential products from the fire brigade are tested. These are e. g. steel pipes, couplings, suction connections, adapters and manifolds. Extinguishing water connection systems as well as filling and drainage stations or direct connection points are also tested.Contact:

Contact:
Stefan Zimmer Tel. +49 721 93163-66, Send e-mail

Information and links

Accreditation certificate

List of new test methods

Order form 

Hygiene Test Info (Formulation, Migration (KTW) and DIN EN 16421)

Formulation form

Flyer – Legionella services

Equipment and methods
  • Federal Environment Agency assessment guidelines (KTW and metals)
  • Biofilm according to W 270 or DIN EN 16421
  • Protection from contamination and back-suction
  • Pressure loss test bench
  • Pressure change test bench
  • Temperature change test bench
  • Endurance test benches for sanitary tapware and other valves
  • Test benches for the effectiveness of softeners and limescale protection equipment
  • UV collimated beam devices
  • Test benches for UV lamps and sensors (optical bench, test reactors)
  • Test facility for biodosimetric testing of UV devices

Contact

Head of Test Centre

Dr. Johannes Ruppert +49 721 93163-51 Send email
 

Deputy of Test Centre

Dr. Jutta Eggers +49 721 93163-52 Send email
 

Projects

Device for biofilm monitoring
09.12.2021
Increased temperatures in the drinking water distribution network (MibiTemp)

The Project aimed on a general understanding of the effects of increased water temperatures on resilience and vulnerability of microbial communities…

Read more

Small-scale pilot plant TZW
14.03.2019
Ultrafiltration as an element of energy efficiency in drinking water hygiene (Ultra-F)

The aim of the project was the holistic and systematic investigation of drinking water installations on the lab scale, in pilot plants and in field…

Read more

Shower head with black coverings
14.03.2019
Black biofilms on drinking water taps

The objective of the DVGW-funded study on the occurrence of black biofilms on drinking water taps was to assess the presence and relevance of black…

Read more

More projects

 

Solutions
  • Water analysis
  • Testing of products and devices
  • Treatment technologies
  • Micropollutants and microorganisms
  • Network management and drinking water installation
  • Risk management
  • Drinking water catchments and resources
  • Environmental biotechnology and contaminated sites
  • Digitalisation
  • Practical projects
Research
  • Resource protection
  • Environmental biotechnology
  • Microorganisms
  • Micropollutants
  • Waste water and water cycle
  • New technologies and products
  • Asset management and infrastructure
  • Digitalisation and Management
About TZW
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Information
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  • Annual report 2024
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