Renovation and Drainage Office

Hello everyone,

we have received mail from the waste disposal services of our city.

"as far as I know, remodeling work is taking place on your property [...] which also affects the drainage. According to §6 of the AWS, any changes to the existing property drainage system require approval from the municipal waste disposal services. [...] Please contact me immediately to clarify whether a drainage application needs to be submitted."

Our renovation does not affect the property drainage (manholes). After the renovation, we have the same number of bathrooms and kitchens as before.

I have now spoken with the caseworker there on the phone. He mentioned that in 2009 an insert/inner liner was installed in the old drainage, but he still wants to take a look on site to see if something should be changed. Our architect believes that he is referring to the manholes for wastewater and rainwater, which in her opinion no longer meet current standards. She thinks the cost would be around €10,000 for both manholes together.

Before I offer an on-site appointment, however, the following questions:
- The caseworker kindly asked for an appointment, do I even have to offer one / let him onto my property? The renovation did not require a building permit, so I don’t even know how they know we are renovating. If they had a right, wouldn’t they have phrased it differently?
- We are not changing anything in the system, so the reason for the visit/application would no longer apply? What we are doing is renewing all heating and water pipes, which of course will ultimately connect to the property drainage.
- What is actually the problem with old manholes? I don’t want to stand in the way of repairs if that makes sense. It also doesn’t make sense to upset the city.
- Besides the manholes, are there any other issues that might come up?

Maybe someone has experience with this?

I don't know how it is in your federal state, but here in BY it was such that despite the new construction we were able to connect to the existing transfer shaft (which is already 50 to 70 years old) and only had to perform a leak test. Generally, wastewater pipes laid underground must be tight. I would comply with the caseworker's request and precisely show what exactly is being done in your case. He just wants to make sure that the system is tight and operational. By the way, this is justified, because as mentioned, wastewater has no place in the environment. If the appointment reveals that improvements need to be made to the existing system in terms of tightness, that is legitimate; however, he will not be able to demand a complete new system, as I would guess there is a kind of grandfathering that can be invoked if tightness can be proven.

What is actually the problem with old shafts?

I honestly don’t know either.

The caseworker politely asked for an appointment, do I even have to offer that / let them onto my property?

But what is actually the problem with solving a problem together and immediately having hostile thoughts?

If they had a right, wouldn’t they have phrased it differently?

How would that be? Should they demand instead of politely asking? Make an on-site appointment and then your questions will be answered. Five in total!