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Central

• formulates recommendations in the form of guidelines for the implementation of the WFD and the FD by the Länder (through a Working Group),
• acts as a fora for Länder on transboundary issues,
• updates and optimizes the scientific bases and measures for safe drinking water,
• for some river basins, a common inter-land RBMP (B-level plan) is prepared through collaboration of more than one Länder. Implementation remains with the competent Länder.

Regional

• coordination and strategic direction of water management at lower levels,
• preparing the RBMP and the FRMP,
• licencing polluting industry installations,
• public participation,
• reporting and measurement stations.

Intermediate level – Kreise

• water resource planning,
• household waste collection and disposal,
• permitting,
• monitoring of rivers.

Local Authorities

• procedures under water management law,
• monitoring of (smaller) water bodies and discharges,
• providing expert advice,
• maintenance and management of sewerage and waste water treatment,
• drinking water supply.

Responsible ministries/bodies

Central

• German Working Group on water issues of the Federal States and the Federal Government
• German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt – UBA)

Regional

• Länder Ministries
• Länder Environmental Agencies

Intermediate Level

• Regierungsbezirke
• Kreise and kreisfreie Städte

Local

• Gemeiden

Sources

• First River Basin Management Plan- Member State: Germany
• Second River Basin Management Plans - Member State: Germany
• First Flood Risk Management Plans - Member State: Germany
• Report of the German Federal Government to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2016