Water protection officer
According to the German Water Resources Act (WHG), a water protection officer or operations officer for water protection must be appointed by every water user who is allowed to discharge more than 750 cubic meters of wastewater in one day . The competent authority can also order the appointment of a water protection officer in other cases.
The water protection officer advises water users and employees on matters that may be important for water protection. His rights and obligations are defined in §§ 64 to 66 WHG. The responsible authority can specify, expand or restrict the tasks specified in the WHG in individual cases.
tasks
Unless the competent authority makes any other regulations, the water protection officer is entitled and obliged to
- to monitor compliance with regulations, ancillary provisions and orders in the interest of water protection,
- to work towards the application of suitable wastewater treatment processes,
- to work towards the development and introduction of in-house processes to avoid or reduce the amount of wastewater generated in terms of type and quantity as well as environmentally friendly production
- inform the employees about the water pollution caused in the company as well as about the facilities and measures to prevent it, taking into account the water law regulations.
The water protection officer gives the water user an annual written report on the measures taken and intended.
Connection with other company officers
If an immission control officer or a waste officer is to be appointed in the company, he can also perform the tasks and duties of a water protection officer. Anyone who is appointed as a water protection officer must have the necessary specialist knowledge and reliability. The task can also be assigned to a qualified external person.
