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Water management; application for recognition as a private expert

Private experts in water management are approved by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment.

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Procedure details

Private experts in water management (PSW) are recognized upon application by the Bavarian State Office for the Environment (LfU).

Recognition as a private expert in water management can be granted for the following PSW fields of activity:

  1. Thermal utilization (open systems)
    Preparation of expert opinions in the procedure for granting a permit with fictitious approval according to Art. 70 para. 1 no. 1 half-sentence 1 of the Bavarian Water Act (BayWG), including expert opinions for the granting of a building permit according to Art. 61 BayWG for these plants
  2. Thermal utilization (closed systems)
    Preparation of expert opinions in the procedure for granting a permit with deemed approval pursuant to Art. 70 para. 1 no. 1 half-sentence 2 BayWG, including the expert opinions for granting a building inspection pursuant to Art. 61 BayWG for these plants
  3. Small wastewater treatment plants
    a) Preparation of expert opinions in the procedure for granting a permit with deemed approval in accordance with Art. 70 Para. 1 No. 2 BayWG, including expert opinions for the granting of a building inspection in accordance with Art. 61 BayWG for these plants,
    b) Preparation of certificates in accordance with Art. 60 BayWG
  4. Building inspection
    Preparation of confirmations in accordance with Art. 61 BayWG in the building inspection procedure
  5. Snowmaking systems
    Preparation of expert opinions in the procedure for issuing a permit for snowmaking systems in accordance with Art. 35 BayWG
  6. Technical water supervision of wastewater facilities (tGewA Abwasseranlagen)
    Carrying out inspections, measurements, investigations and tests in accordance with Art. 58 Para. 1 Sentence 5 Annex 2 BayWG
  7. Self-monitoring
    Implementation of self-monitoring for water supply and wastewater systems
  8. Property drainage systems
    Inspection of property drainage systems and property connections
  9. List of participants
    List of participants for the determination of cost contributions for the maintenance and development of water bodies

Recognition for individual specialist areas may be restricted if this is necessary on the basis of the qualification certificates submitted. This applies in particular to specialist areas with a broad range of tasks, e.g. self-monitoring and construction acceptance.

Section 3 of the German Water Expert Ordinance (VPSW) specifies the requirements for recognition as a PSW. In particular, only persons who are reliable and meet the personal and professional requirements can be recognized.

The personal requirements are met in particular by

  • has sufficient liability insurance with a minimum cover of one and a half million euros, or five hundred thousand euros if the scope of application is limited to Section 1 No. 3, for personal injury, property damage, water damage and financial loss per insured event with at least double the maximum per insurance year and
  • is not in a professional, financial or other dependent relationship that could influence his expert activities and
  • is not a civil servant or employee of the Free State of Bavaria or another public corporation or a company in which such a corporation holds at least a majority interest.

The professional requirements are fulfilled by persons who, at the time of recognition

  • have successfully completed a Bachelor's, Master's or Diplom degree in a course of study relevant to the requested recognition at a domestic university or university of applied sciences and can provide evidence of at least three years of qualified professional experience in the requested area of recognition in the last five years or
  • can provide evidence of foreign training in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 07.09.2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

Proficiency in written and spoken German.

  • The following documents are required:
    • Application for new recognition or extension (you will receive access to the form during the consultation)
      Please complete the form in full and sign it.
    • Photograph
    • Curriculum vitae in tabular form (with the usual personal details, a complete account of your schooling, vocational training and professional activities)
    • Documents (certificates, diplomas) of vocational training qualifications
      (transmission as a scan and presentation of the originals for the interview)
    • Certificate of good conduct for presentation to authorities in accordance with § 30 of the Federal Central Register Act
      Please apply to the competent authority and provide the above address of the competent authority. Can also be submitted later up to the recognition date after the examination of the professional experience.
    • Confirmation of liability insurance (you will be given access to the form during the counselling interview)
      Please complete the form in full and sign it. This confirmation can either be sent by post as an original by the applicant or online as a scan directly by the insurance company. Can also be submitted later up to the recognition date after the professional experience has been verified.
    • Declaration of the applicant (you will be given access to the form during the consultation)
      Please complete the form in full and sign it.
    • Employer's declaration (consent to PSW activity, not bound by instructions) - signed informal declaration by the employer on the applicant's exemption and not being bound by instructions for PSW activity
      This confirmation can be sent either by post in the original, or online directly by the employer. It is not required in the case of self-employment.
    • Proof of at least 3 years of relevant activity in the areas of activity applied for (you will receive access to the form during the consultation)
      The reference list should contain at least 10 different relevant references with details of the clients (address and telephone number) and the responsible local authorities (contact person + telephone number) as well as the scope and the functions exercised by the applicant in the respective activities. These must have been carried out essentially on the applicant's own responsibility.
    • Proof of sampling competence
      Only required for application tGewA wastewater plants. Can also be submitted later up to the recognition date after the examination of the professional experience.

The first step is a brief telephone consultation.

You can reach the State Office for the Environment by calling 09281/1800-4952 or 0821/9071-5522 or by e-mail at psw@lfu.bayern.de.

You will need Internet access for the consultation. You will be given access to the application forms during the consultation. Once the application has been submitted or the documents have been sent to the recognition body for PSW (State Office for the Environment, Department 96), the personal and professional requirements, which are verified by the applicant by means of the documents to be submitted, will be checked. In addition, a technical interview is usually held and recognition seminars (general and technical part) must be attended.

The activity as a PSW for the "tGewA wastewater treatment plants" area of recognition is linked to approval in accordance with the Laboratory Ordinance for the area of "Sampling and general parameters". For this purpose, participation in a competence assessment event is required as part of the recognition process.

  • for the first area of recognition: 300.00 euros
  • for each additional area of recognition: 100.00 euros (Costs Act, List of Costs Tariff No. 8.IV.0/1.30.1.1)
  • Expenses for PSW stamp: 25.00 euros
  • Expenses for the determination of competence (area tGewA wastewater plants) according to information

There are no deadlines for the application.

However, please note that you must not have attended the recognition seminar more than 2 years prior to the date of recognition. We recommend that you only attend the recognition seminar after your professional experience has been assessed.

The processing time is usually up to six months.

For technicians and master craftsmen, an exceptional procedure is possible in addition to the regular recognition procedure (university degree). Detailed information will be provided in a consultation.

An action may be brought against a decision of recognition, rejection or revocation within one month of its notification.

Status: 14.04.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
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