Drinking water in Germany - What comes out of Germany's taps?

German drinking water is considered to be the best monitored foodstuff and is subject to strict legal controls. The quality is based on limit values for concentrations of pollutants, which are set out in the Drinking Water Ordinance and are monitored on an ongoing basis. 

But what is the reality? Is the water from our pipes really always so safe or are we unknowingly ingesting harmful substances through our drinking water? In this Guidebook , we get to the bottom of the matter and take a closer look at Germany's water pipes.

We clarify...

• ...where Germany's drinking water comes from.
• ... the state of drinking water quality in Germany.
• ... what the Drinking Water Ordinance says,
• ... why Tapwater is not entirely harmless despite legal regulations,
• ... what makes healthy drinking water,
• ... which nutrients and pollutants are contained in drinking water in Germany, 
• ... how the different ingredients get into the water,
• ... and what you can do yourself to improve drinking water quality.

Where does Germany's drinking water come from?

Germany obtains its drinking water from various sources, as it is a relatively water-rich country. Only a fraction of the available water is ultimately used as drinking water.

Depending on the region, the following drinking water sources can be distinguished: 

• Groundwater that is formed by the seepage of precipitation, lake and river water and can be found at a depth of 50 meters or more. 
• Spring water that emerges either from deeper or near-surface springs. 
• Enriched groundwater, which is achieved through targeted infiltration. 
• Surface water from flowing waters, reservoirs and lakes.
• Bank filtrate from wells near water (e.g. near rivers or lakes). 

Source: Federal Statistical Office

Drinking water quality in Germany

In general: Tapwater must be such that there is no risk of harm to human health or the environment. This means that it must be free of impurities and pollutants. In order to keep these as low as possible in Tapwater , the German Drinking Water Ordinance sets limits for around 50 chemical, microbiological and radiological pollutants. ¹

These limits are regularly revised as soon as a new pollutant appears in drinking water or new findings are made about the negative effects of an existing substance. So at first glance, drinking water in Germany leaves a pretty good impression. 

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. Just because our Tapwater does not exceed certain limits does not mean that there are no more pollutants in the water afterwards. 

For most consumers, their drinking water is really a "black box" and water quality is often based more on hope than knowledge.

So what is the real state of the German Tapwater? Let's take a closer look at the following points: 

• Drinking water ordinance
• Drinking water treatment
• Analysis method
• Pipelines

1. drinking water ordinance not strict enough

The Federal Environment Agency 's statement is not wrong when it claims that our drinking water meets all guidelines. After all, the limit values of the Drinking Water Ordinance are definitely being complied with. But is that really enough? ²

We already know that the Drinking Water Ordinance contains limit values for around 50 different substances. However, the fact is that there are also a number of other unlisted substances. This is despite the fact that these substances are known to have a harmful effect above a certain concentration or combination with other substances.

These non-listed ingredients include, among others: 

• Drug residues
• Hormones 
• Microplastics
• Pesticides

2. inadequate drinking water treatment by public water suppliers

In addition to the problem that some harmful substances are not listed in the Drinking Water Ordinance, waterworks in many places have outdated or inadequate treatment techniques. As a result, contaminated and germ-laden water sometimes reaches German households despite drinking water treatment. 

The reason for this is that drinking water treatment by public water suppliers is always a compromise between

• technical possibilities,
• cost aspects,
• health compatibility, 
• and political interests. 

In addition, many cities have a dilapidated, ageing drinking water network and water pipes in housing estates and old buildings that are in need of renovation. ³

3. untimely analysis methods

Incomplete monitoring of pollutants and inadequate drinking water treatment are already worrying enough, but this is often compounded by out-of-date analysis. 

According to the Drinking Water Ordinance, germs in drinking water must still only be determined using the smear method, which is now over 100 years old. However, it is known that only 0.1 - 1% of the bacteria present in drinking water tend to form colonies that can even be counted on a smear.

This outdated analysis method inevitably results in the actual bacterial load in the Tapwater being underestimated. This is also shown by studies in Munich. According to these, between 8,000 and 100,000 germs per ml are flushed into buildings through the city's drinking water supply. Most of these are harmless bacteria, but pathogens such as legionella, pseudomonads and organisms such as amoebae are also not uncommon. 

4. dilapidated and outdated pipelines

Even if the measured values at the water supplier are still within the limit values, it should be borne in mind that germs can continue to multiply in the pipes on the way to the consumer's building and then later in the building itself. 

The older the house or facility and the longer ago it was renovated, the more likely it is that most of the contaminants in the drinking water come from the pipes themselves. 

Frequent problem areas are: 

• old copper pipes
• Galvanized lead pipes
• Damaged seals
• Inactive wiring harnesses

They all pose a specific risk to water quality and human health. Be it through the greatly increased release of substances or the improved growth conditions for bacteria.

This often leads to a massive germ load in buildings. Protection against bacteria and germs is therefore extremely important for your own health. This means that you have to ensure optimum drinking water quality yourself! 

Excursus: Mineral water instead of drinking water?

If you can't be sure whether you can drink your own Tapwater without hesitation, should you drink mineral water instead? The answer here is a clear NO! 

The belief that mineral water does not contain any harmful substances is proving to be wrong. Because even mineral water is constantly being found to be contaminated with pesticides, pesticides, plasticizers and much more. According to a study by Stiftung Warentest, Tapwater is often even richer in minerals and healthier than bottled mineral water! ⁴

In addition, the ecological footprint of mineral water is very poor, which is primarily due to the large quantities of disposable plastic bottles. Tapwater , on the other hand, has a significantly lower CO2 footprint. 

Therefore: Better stay away from mineral water!

So when is drinking water healthy? 

In principle, drinking water from Germany's taps is not unhealthy per se. It meets certain quality standards and is generally strictly controlled - at least with regard to some of the most well-known pollutants. Normally, the limits set out in the Drinking Water Ordinance are not exceeded. 

What harms our drinking water, however, are pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and other chemicals as well as outdated pipes. The latter in particular often pose a risk to German drinking water. 

If you want to be on the safe side and ensure that your drinking water is really free of harmful substances, we recommend using a drinking water filter. But beware of so-called jug or table filters: these only improve the taste of your water, but hardly filter any harmful substances, germs etc. out of it! ⁶

With a suitable drinking water filter - such as a high-quality, sintered activated carbon filter - you can filter the following substances from your water and enjoy healthy drinking water: 

What nutrients does our drinking water contain?

However, German drinking water does not only contain harmful substances. It also provides us with some important nutrients that our body needs to maintain and support its various functions. This includes tissue and cell structure, strengthening bones and joints and supporting the nervous system.

In this context, nutrients are divided into macrominerals and trace elements. Macrominerals (e.g. sodium) are electrolytes that the human body needs in larger quantities of up to five grams or more. Trace elements (e.g. copper) are required in much smaller quantities.

Depending on the region, German drinking water contains the following important nutrients in varying concentrations: 

Ingredients and their effects: minerals & trace elements

But watch out:

Normally, the amount of nutrients contained in drinking water is not sufficient to cover the human body's requirements. This is also not necessary for some nutrients, as they are also supplied to the body through food intake.

However, too high an intake of certain nutrients - such as copper - can in turn lead to harmful side effects. Infants and young children are particularly affected by this. 

What impurities can be contained in the water?

Unfortunately, clean water cannot be taken for granted. Even public water suppliers cannot always guarantee optimum water quality - we have described the reasons for this above. 

In the worst case, this can lead to health hazards due to drinking water. Especially in view of the large amount of water we consume during our lives, even the smallest amounts of some substances can have significant (side) effects in our bodies.

The most common contaminants in drinking water include:

• Bacteria & germs
• Hormones & drug residues
• Pesticides
• Microplastics
• Legionella
• Chlorine
• Heavy metals
• Nitrates

How do the ingredients actually get into German drinking water?

Some nutrients and pollutants enter our drinking water supply chain naturally - for example in this way: 

• Minerals dissolve in the soil.
• Rainwater may contain residues of industrial waste gases or animal excrement.
• Residues of pesticides and fertilizers are found in the groundwater.
• Contamination is caused by old pipes in your own home. 
• Medicines, paint residues and other chemicals are disposed of in the toilet or sink. 
• Microplastics get into the sewage system and thus into drinking water when polyester clothing is washed in the washing machine.

Tips for better drinking water quality

You don't have to stand idly by and watch the sometimes questionable quality of drinking water in Germany. Take action yourself and contribute to better tap water quality with the following tips.

• Let the tap run for a while at the beginning. This will prevent you from consuming stagnant water - i.e. water that has been standing in the tap for several hours. However, you can safely use this water for watering flowers, cleaning or similar. 
• Never dispose of unused or expired medicines in sinks, toilets, etc. The same applies to paint residues or other water-polluting chemicals. 
• Use detergents and cleaning agents sparingly and always according to the hardness of your drinking water. 
• Avoid aggressive chemical cleaning agents and, if possible, use natural household cleaners.
• Do not use chemical pesticides or too much commercial fertilizer. 
• Use suitable water filters to protect yourself and enjoy guaranteed healthy drinking water.

Conclusion - Drinking water situation in Germany

All substances in water that have a negative impact on animals, plants and humans are considered contaminants and should only be present in limited quantities, if at all, in Tapwater . Nevertheless, our drinking water not only contains nutrients that are beneficial to health, but unfortunately also a wide range of pollutants. 

The Drinking Water Ordinance only sets limits for pollutants whose short and long-term effects on the human body have been researched. For example, there are currently no legally defined limits for pharmaceutical residues or microplastics, which means that these substances are not explicitly filtered by the waterworks. If you want to filter these particular pollutants, a separate water filter is recommended.

Questions and answers

Where can you find the best drinking water in Germany?

According to a study conducted by Stiftung Warentest in 2019, drinking water from Hamburg comes out on top. In this study, drinking water from 20 different cities and municipalities across Germany was tested for critical substances such as nitrate, chromium, pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and much more. ⁷

Important: None of the water in the cities and municipalities tested is harmful to health, but almost all samples contained minute traces of undesirable substances.

How much does a liter of drinking water cost in Germany?

According to the Federal Statistical Office, a liter of drinking water in Germany costs an average of 0.2 cents. This is much cheaper than mineral water, which costs between 13 and 60 cents per liter on average. 8

Where does drinking water come from in Germany?

The majority of Germany's drinking water comes from groundwater. Other water sources include spring water, surface water, enriched groundwater and bank filtrate. 

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