Proof of tightness for property drainage systems

Prerequisites

not specified

Documents required

not specified

Please note

Proof of tightness: Property owners are responsible for the tightness of their sewer pipes and systems.
Telephone contact time: Mon, Tue and Thu: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Wed and Thu: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Deadlines

There are different deadlines; please refer to this overview .

Procedure

In the case of a new property drainage system, proof of the test for leaks must be carried out in the course of the construction work (pressure test with water or air according to DIN EN 1610). New property drainage systems may only be put into operation when proof of tightness has been provided.

Proof of tightness for existing property drainage systems must be kept by the owners and presented to the authorities on request (§ 17b Paragraph 1 Clause 3 Hamburg Waste Water Act).
In principle, the following applies to residential properties: Proof of tightness must be provided every 25 years, in water protection areas every 10 years.

Processing time

ongoing

Fees

The submission of an audit report is free of charge. The test costs depend on the respective provider of the service and the complexity.

Legal remedies

An objection can be lodged against a decision within one month.

Legal basis

Section 17b paragraph 1 sentence 2 of the Hamburg Wastewater Act

It is known from various studies both in Hamburg and in other federal states that approx. 30 to over 50% of private sewage pipes are damaged. The total length of private lines nationwide is estimated to be at least twice as long as that of the public network. Apparently, there is a considerable potential for damage to the groundwater as a result of the infiltration of sewage from pipe leaks. This applies to the entire urban area and is a particular problem in water protection areas.