DAHLEM

What DAHLEM does

DAHLEM Beratende Ingenieure GmbH & Co. Wasserwirtschaft KG is a German engineering consultancy founded in 1937, headquartered in Essen with regional offices in Berlin, Darmstadt, and Wiesbaden, plus an 80%-owned Austrian subsidiary (SETEC Engineering GmbH). The firm plans and coordinates water-management and hydraulic-engineering infrastructure projects—wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems, drinking water pipelines, dikes, canals, and flood-protection facilities—delivering full-scope services across all nine HOAI fee phases (Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieure), from feasibility studies through construction supervision. Its technology stack centers on Building Information Modeling (BIM), 2D flood simulation, GeoCPM-based urban flash flood analyses, ASM and CFD simulations for wastewater process design, and proprietary liquid-soil (Flüssigboden) construction techniques. The firm also extends into energy-transition infrastructure, notably underground power cable routing for transmission system operator Amprion.

DAHLEM generates revenue through professional engineering fees priced under the regulated German HOAI framework, awarded via competitive public tendering. Primary customers are German municipal governments, water associations (Wupperverband, Deichverband Xanten-Kleve), municipal utilities (Stadtwerke Karlsruhe, Hessenwasser, Mark-E), and transmission system operators (Amprion). Secondary segments include industrial clients (Merck KGaA) and international development projects funded by the EU, World Bank, and other donors in Albania, Kosovo, Barbados, and Zambia. Distribution is direct via consortium (ARGE) and prime-contractor arrangements; there are no reseller or digital channels. The firm is a core member of the aquacor cooperation network of four engineering firms, which extends its delivery capacity for large, complex projects.

DAHLEM is privately held as a GmbH & Co. KG with no external investors, no parent company, and no disclosed funding rounds. It employs nearly 200 people, is led by three Managing Directors (Dr.-Ing. Jan-Gregor Dahlem, Dipl.-Ing. Mathias Kleffmann, Dipl.-Betriebsw. Jörg Müller), and was recognized as a Kununu Top Company 2025. Its engineers hold registrations across the Ingenieurkammer NRW, Ingenieurkammer Hessen, Baukammer Berlin, and OAI Luxembourg, with worldwide professional liability insurance coverage.

Name

DAHLEM

Legal name

DAHLEM Beratende Ingenieure GmbH & Co. Wasserwirtschaft KG

Website

https://dahlem-ingenieure.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DAHLEM is a German engineering consultancy (founded 1937, ~200 employees) that plans and supervises water infrastructure—wastewater treatment plants, drinking water systems, flood protection, and energy-transition cable routing—for municipalities, water associations, transmission system operators, and international donors across Germany, Austria, and select developing markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Infrastructure Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Treatment Plant Construction (Drinking Water) (IMAFAGAA), Water Reuse & Reclamation Infrastructure Construction (Recycled Water Systems) (IMAFAGAH), Design & Engineering for Renewal/Expansion (Pipelines, Pump Stations, Treatment Plants) (EUANALAD)

Keywords

• Water engineering consulting
• Hydraulic infrastructure planning
• Wastewater treatment engineering
• Flood protection services
• Drinking water supply design

Headquarters

HQ city

Essen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: DAHLEM generates revenue by providing professional engineering consulting services for water infrastructure projects. Fees are based on the German HOAI (Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieurleistungen) fee structure for engineering services. Revenue is project-based, with services ranging from initial feasibility studies and planning through to construction supervision across multiple project phases (Leistungsphasen 1-9 per HOAI). Projects are delivered through direct client engagements with municipalities, water associations, government bodies, and international clients, and through consortium arrangements.
2. International Engineering Services: DAHLEM operates internationally, providing engineering services for international development projects funded by EU, World Bank, and other donor organizations, including construction supervision and infrastructure development in Albania, Kosovo, and Barbados.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DAHLEM Beratende Ingenieure is a German engineering consultancy that plans and coordinates water management and hydraulic infrastructure projects, including wastewater treatment plants, sewer systems, drinking water pipelines, dykes, and underground cable routes for the energy transition. Services span all HOAI project phases (1-9) from feasibility studies through construction supervision, delivered primarily to municipalities, water associations, and government bodies in Germany and selected international markets.

Product overview

DAHLEM Beratende Ingenieure is a consulting engineering firm offering specialized services in water management infrastructure. Their portfolio includes wastewater treatment planning and renovation, drinking water supply systems, flood protection concepts, sludge treatment, infrastructure planning, urban flash flood management, and hydraulic engineering. The company provides BIM planning services and is involved in international projects. Services are delivered through engineering teams organized by business areas (wastewater treatment, sludge treatment, drinking water supply, infrastructure, flood protection, and hydraulic engineering) with regional offices in Essen, Rhein-Main, Berlin, and international operations. The company is part of the aquacor cooperation network and owns 80% of SETEC Engineering GmbH in Austria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment Engineering Services
• Drinking Water Supply Engineering Services
• Flood Protection Engineering Services
• Sludge Treatment Engineering Services
• Infrastructure Planning Services
• Urban Flash Flood Management Services
• Constructive Hydraulic Engineering Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 340,000 PE wastewater treatment capacity for Leverkusen WWTP with P removal <0.5 mg/l and trace substance elimination
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AMPRIONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHLEM serves as project partner for Amprion, one of Germany's four transmission system operators (TSOs), for underground cable routing projects associated with the energy transition. Specifically, DAHLEM provides civil engineering and construction management services for the EnLAG Project No. 16 (Wehrendorf–Gütersloh) around Borgholzhausen and the BALWIN 1 & 2 offshore grid connection systems (~150 km of cable routing).
• WupperverbandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHLEM operates in a consortium (ARGE) with the Wupperverband for the new construction of the Leverkusen wastewater treatment plant. The Wupperverband is responsible for water management in the Wupper river region and serves as the client. DAHLEM provides full engineering services (HOAI phases 1-9) including BIM-based design for the 340,000 PE plant.
• aquacor (Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHLEM is closely associated with 3 other engineering companies within the aquacor cooperation network. This alliance enables the assembly of large expert teams for innovative wastewater treatment plant projects that are energy-efficient, feature 4th purification stages, and achieve high self-sufficiency.
• SETEC Engineering GmbH (Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSETEC Engineering GmbH is DAHLEM's 80%-owned subsidiary based in Austria. Since 1966, SETEC has provided customized complete solutions for public and private water suppliers, complementing DAHLEM's service offering in the Austrian market and providing specialized expertise in drinking water treatment.
• Barbados Water Authority (BWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHLEM's International Department provides engineering services for the expansion of the Bridgetown sewage treatment plant in Barbados (2024-2027). The project is part of the national 'Roofs to Reefs Programme.' DAHLEM's team includes Thomas Neugebauer working alongside BWA project manager Shalley Parris. The project was presented on breakfast television 'Mornin' Barbados.'
• Hessenwasser GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAHLEM provides technical engineering services for Hessenwasser's New Ried Pipeline project (southern section, 2024-2027), one of the largest water supply infrastructure projects in Germany. The project involves 16.93 km of DN 1000 steel pipeline with microtunneling crossings, targeting completion in 2030 with a total investment of €150 million.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• CDM Smith: US-headquartered global engineering and construction firm with a strong water and environment practice. Comparable technical capabilities to DAHLEM in wastewater treatment, water supply, and flood protection, but primarily serves North American markets.
• Stantec Inc. Canadian global engineering consultancy with a top-tier Water practice serving municipal and industrial clients. Overlaps with DAHLEM across drinking water, wastewater, and water resources engineering; primarily serves North American markets with selective European presence.

Broad incumbents

• Arcadis NV: Dutch-listed global design and consultancy firm with one of the strongest water-management practices in Europe. Comparable to DAHLEM in core water/wastewater consulting capabilities but significantly larger and globally diversified across mobility, places, and resilience.
• Sweco AB: Sweden-based European engineering consultancy with deep water, environment, and infrastructure capabilities across the Nordics, Benelux, Germany, and Central Europe. Comparable to DAHLEM on water/wastewater and urban flood services; broader geographic and service footprint.
• Tractebel (ENGIE): Belgian-headquartered engineering consultancy owned by ENGIE with strong water, energy, and infrastructure practices across Europe. Overlaps with DAHLEM in water infrastructure consulting and energy-transition engineering, but operates as a much larger international platform.
• WSP Global Inc. Canadian global engineering consultancy with a major Water and Environment practice across Europe. Comparable to DAHLEM in water infrastructure, flood risk, and environmental engineering capabilities; significantly larger and more diversified geographically.
• Jacobs Solutions Inc. US-listed global professional services firm with one of the largest water and environmental consulting practices worldwide. Overlaps with DAHLEM across wastewater, drinking water, and climate adaptation consulting; operates at vastly greater scale.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with a large Water business line spanning treatment plant design, flood management, and conveyance. Comparable to DAHLEM on technical scope; competes for major German municipal and EU-funded tenders as a global incumbent.
• Ramboll Group A/S: Danish global engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm with a leading European water and wastewater treatment practice. Overlaps directly with DAHLEM's wastewater, climate adaptation, and BIM-based plant design services, while operating at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG: Stuttgart-headquartered, privately-held German engineering consultancy of comparable mid-cap size with overlapping water, energy, and infrastructure consulting practices. Closest analog to DAHLEM in terms of German roots, mid-sized partner-led structure, and mixed water/energy/infrastructure portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dahlem-beratende-ingenieure

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DAHLEM