Water hazard class

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In German water law, the water hazard class (WGK) denotes the suitability of a substance or mixture to pollute a body of water , i.e. water . The precautionary measures of those who handle these substances are determined according to this classification.

Germany

Historical development

The term comes from the administrative regulation on water polluting substances (VwVwS), which was repealed on August 2, 2017 . In it, the water hazard of substances was specified in more detail, partly as substance lists of the classes, partly as prescribed classification procedures. This regulation was derived from Section 62 (4) number 1 in conjunction with Section 23 (1) numbers 5 to 11 of the Water Management Act (WHG).

In the previous general administrative regulation for the Water Resources Act on the more detailed determination of water-polluting substances and their classification according to their hazard from April 18, 1996, there was still a WGK 0 for “generally not water-polluting” substances. WGK 0 ceased to exist with the publication of the VwVwS on May 17, 1999. In the VwVwS, some of these substances were classified as “not hazardous to water”, but some were transferred to WGK 1.

The requirements, which are graded according to the water hazard class and amount of substance, were stipulated in the water law of the federal states by the "facility ordinances " (VAwS, ordinances on facilities for handling substances hazardous to water). In 2010 the federal government authorized by the WHG issued the Ordinance on Systems for Handling Substances Hazardous to Water (AwSV). A new AwSV was enacted on April 18, 2017 and came into force partly on April 22, 2017 and partly on August 1, 2017. This "[...] [...] specifies nationwide uniform requirements for plants for handling water-polluting substances and replaces the different plant ordinances (VAwS) in force in the individual federal states. […] The classification-related regulations of the AwSV (Chapter 2 and Annexes 1 and 2) are based on the VwVwS of 1999 and 2005 and harmonize the WGK classification with the CLP regulation (EC No. 1272/2008) . The AwSV basically regulates the classification of substances and mixtures in water hazard classes (WGK). "The general administrative regulation for the Water Resources Act on the classification of water-polluting substances in water hazard classes (administrative regulation water polluting substances - VwVwS) is repealed on August 10, 2017 with effect from August 2, 2017 been.

meaning

According to the current regulation on systems for handling substances hazardous to water (AwSV), the classes mean

WGK 1 Slightly hazardous to water
WGK 2 Clearly hazardous to water
WGK 3 Very hazardous to water

The classification of a substance or a mixture of substances in one of these classes is linked to safety rules for operators of stationary systems in relation to storage and other forms of handling these substances: With a higher level of risk and a correspondingly higher risk class, the requirements placed on the plant operator in order to realize these risks increase to prevent. In addition to the capacity, the water hazard class is a criterion for determining the hazard level of a system for handling water-polluting substances, according to which, for example, the frequency of its control or the specialist company obligation for its construction, cleaning or repair is based.

These categories do not apply to freight traffic as the AwSV does not apply to mobile systems.

classification

Substances or mixtures are classified in water hazard classes if they cannot be assigned to the categories

  • not hazardous to water (similar to earlier: WGK 0) or
  • generally hazardous to water , i.e. liquid manure, slurry and silage (seepage juices) and other groups listed in Section 3 (2) AwSV.

The Federal Environment Agency then decides on the classification of substances or groups of substances in a WGK; It can decide on the classification of mixtures in a WGK and on the classification of substances or mixtures as not hazardous to water . These decisions are published in the Federal Gazette . These and the still valid classifications of the Federal Environment Agency published according to the legal situation until 2017 can be accessed via its "Rigoletto" database. Substances or mixtures that are not covered by this and are not converted into containers or packaging must be classified by the operator of a system under the supervision of the Federal Environment Agency before handling them. As long as they are not classified according to these rules or are generally hazardous to water , they are considered highly hazardous to water (WGK 3).

The basis of the official classification such as the otherwise necessary self-classification in WGK or as not hazardous to water is, in addition to criteria such as density and water solubility, a point system that is based on the R-phrases and H-phrases derived from scientific tests . Without such knowledge, a separate evaluation system takes effect based on precautionary points , which in case of doubt leads to classification in a higher water hazard class. The proportion calculation is regulated for mixtures.

The WGK must be shown in the safety data sheets in accordance with REACH-VO .

Switzerland

The Switzerland has two classes of water-polluting liquids

  • Class A = substances that can contaminate water in small quantities
  • Class B = substances that can contaminate water in large quantities

In 2007, the ordinance on the protection of waters from water-polluting liquids was repealed. The most important provisions for water protection have been incorporated into the Act on the Protection of Waters (Waters Protection Act, GSchG, SR 814.20) and the Waters Protection Ordinance (GSchV, SR 814.201), including the division of water-polluting liquids into two classes.

Technical protective measures

Depending on the water hazard class and the storage quantities of water-hazardous substances or the size of the system, for example, catch basins and extinguishing water retention devices are required as water protection measures.

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Legal regulations - Water-polluting substances . In: www.umweltbundesamt.de . Federal Republic of Germany , April 18, 2011, accessed and received on October 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ a b General administrative regulation to repeal the general administrative regulation for the Water Resources Act on the classification of water-polluting substances into water-polluting classes (Administrative regulation water-polluting substances - VwVwS) . From August 10, 2017. In: Bundesanzeiger . AT 08/15/2017 B5 ( administrative regulations-im-internet.de [accessed on October 4, 2017]).
  3. ↑ GMBl. 1996 p. 327
  4. ↑ Sample VAwS (PDF; 90 kB) from LAWA
  5. ^ Ordinance on systems for handling substances hazardous to water (AwSV) , dated April 18, 2017 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 905 ). Online in: www.gesetze-im-internet.de . Federal Republic of Germany , accessed and received on October 4, 2017.
  6. ↑ Legal regulations - Water-polluting substances . In: www.umweltbundesamt.de . Federal Republic of Germany , accessed and received on October 4, 2017 (the date of the document is April 18, 2011, but the AwSV of April 18, 2017 describes its content).
  7. ↑ Dated May 17, 1999 ( BAnz. No. 98a of May 29, 1999), which has been changed by Article 1 of the General Administrative Regulation of July 27, 2005 (BAnz. No. 142a of July 30, 2005)
  8. ↑ Section 3 (1) AwSV of April 18, 2017 ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 905 )
  9. ↑ § 1 para. 2 no. 2 AwSV
  10. ↑ § 6 Paragraph 4 and § 11 AwSV
  11. ↑ § 66 AwSV
  12. ↑ Federal Environment Agency: Substance database
  13. ↑ § 3 Paragraph 4 AwSV
  14. ↑ Appendix 1 to AwSV
  15. ↑ Federal Environment Agency: Legal regulations for substances hazardous to water
  16. ↑ Classification of water-polluting liquids , Federal Office for the Environment, 2019.
  17. ↑ Explanations on the repeal of the ordinance on the protection of waters against water-polluting liquids (PDF; 22 kB)