Permanently safeguarding infrastructures. A partnership makes this possible – and on the best possible terms.

Profitable water management despite a declining population – this has what has been achieved in the Lausitz region.

Demographic structures are changing. Population density is in decline. This, in turn, is reducing water consumption – a problem for many municipalities, because the infrastructures of drinking water supply and sewage disposal must be adapted to changes in consumer behaviour. If this is not done, drinking water quality will decline because it spends too long in the mains. Water and sewage plants have lower capacity utilisation. Furthermore, sewers get clogged up more often because of the decrease in the flow rate, thereby generating unpleasant smells and resulting in cumulative wear and tear as a result of corrosion. All this leads to higher costs at a time when income from consumer charges is steadily falling. In this area, REMONDIS Aqua offers successful solutions – as it has proven many times, for example, in its capacity as operations manager for Wasserverband Lausitz.

 

 

 

One example among many: the Lausitz region
In the Lausitz region in eastern Germany, brown coal was mined in opencast sites until ten years ago. There were enough jobs for the local population, and the population density was correspondingly high. After the mines closed, many of the locals moved away. In the period since 2000 alone, the population has declined by 10%.

 

 

 

Challenges for Wasserverband Lausitz

• Sewage treatment plants no longer being used to full capacity
• Huge need for investment in new sewer networks
• Continuous decline in water consumption
• Continuous decline in population numbers
• Infrastructure no longer in harmony with population change
• Exhausted cost optimisation potential
• Costs higher than income from water rates

 

 

 

Solution via partnership with REMONDIS Aqua

• Operating activities, in other words technical and commercial management, engineering and project management, were taken on by Wasserverband Lausitz Betriebsführungsgesellschaft, a fully-owned subsidiary of REMONDIS Aqua. As a result, costs are 30 % lower than before!
• Water rates have been kept stable since mid-2000 despite the shrinking population
• The Wasserverband employees were taken on and their employment relationships continued with their acquired vested rights being safeguarded
• The range of services for its customers was appreciably expanded.
• Wasserverband Lausitz remains the sole owner of the technical facilities. It still has the last word on matters relating to the company statutes and makes all decisions on investments, charges and prices
• The company's successful entry into the national water market has given it a presence beyond the water board's boundaries