What Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband does

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV), founded in 1948, is a German public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) operating as the country's largest area-wide water utility (Flächenversorger). It provides integrated drinking water supply and wastewater disposal services across a 7,150 km² service area covering 10 counties in northwestern Germany (Aurich, Cloppenburg, Friesland, Wittmund, Wesermarsch, Cuxhaven, Oldenburg, Diepholz, Vechta, Ammerland), serving approximately 1.2 million people. The infrastructure backbone consists of 15 waterworks, 46 sewage treatment plants, and approximately 15,000 kilometers of pipeline network, with in-house drinking water (Nethen) and wastewater (Oldenburg) laboratories supporting compliance with the German Drinking Water Ordinance.

The core product portfolio comprises drinking water supply, wastewater disposal, and industrial/process water solutions (Brauchwasserversorgung), delivered through subsidiaries iwag (industrial water), Niedersachsen Wasser, and Stadt.Land.Grün. Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based volumetric fees (e.g., €1.70/m³ for drinking water in Wildeshausen; €3.87/m³ for wastewater in Twistringen), basic charges tied to meter size, one-time connection fees, and tailored industrial water agreements. Distribution is direct via owned pipeline infrastructure, supplemented by the 'einfach Heimat' customer portal, a toll-free service line, online cost calculators, and multiple Betriebsstellen (operational locations). The organization reinvests all surpluses into infrastructure under its public mandate without profit motive.

OOWV is actively developing a smart water solutions portfolio (KIMoDis AI-based groundwater monitoring, SiTReg demand forecasting, ARIKI automated inspection, b:rainTank storage) targeting climate adaptation and digital water management, alongside alternative water resource research (brackish water desalination, gray water reuse, hydrogen production integration). International operator partnerships span Sansibar, South Africa, Ukraine (solidarity support), Zambia, Rwanda, and Ghana, while a new sustainability and education facility, the Wasser-Wald-Zentrum Schortens, opened in October 2025.

Name

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband

Legal name

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband

Website

https://oowv.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV) is a German public-law water corporation providing drinking water supply and wastewater disposal to 1.2 million people across 7,150 km² in northwestern Germany through 15 waterworks, 46 treatment plants, and ~15,000 km of pipeline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Utility Services

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

Industrial Water Reuse Utilities (ZLD/MLD & Process Water Recycling) (EUANAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Non‑Potable Reuse Utilities (Irrigation, Industrial, Cooling) (EUANAGAA)

Keywords

• Drinking water supply
• Wastewater disposal services
• Industrial water solutions
• Water utility operations
• Environmental water management

Headquarters

HQ city

Brake

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Drinking Water Supply Fees: The OOWV charges drinking water fees based on consumption (per cubic meter) plus a basic charge determined by meter size. The organization is a public-law corporation without profit motive; any surplus is reinvested in infrastructure.
2. Wastewater Disposal Fees: Wastewater fees are charged based on water consumption (same volume as drinking water purchased) plus specific charges for rainwater drainage. Industrial customers may have separate agreements including indirect discharge monitoring.
3. Raw Water / Service Water Solutions for Industrial Customers: Customized raw water solutions for industrial customers to protect groundwater resources, including process water and alternative water supply arrangements.
4. Water Connection Services: Charges for new water and wastewater connections including connection fees and meter installation.
5. Specialist Services for Companies: Services for commercial customers including indirect discharge permits (Indirekteinleiter), connection measurements, and a supplier portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV) is a public water utility that supplies drinking water and provides wastewater disposal services across a 7,150 km² service area in northwestern Germany. It operates 15 waterworks, 46 sewage treatment plants, and approximately 15,000 km of pipeline network serving roughly 1.2 million people through private households, municipalities, and industrial customers. As a public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts), it reinvests all surpluses into infrastructure without profit motive.

Product overview

Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband (OOWV) operates as a multi-service water utility providing an integrated portfolio of drinking water supply, wastewater disposal, and industrial water solutions across northwestern Germany. The core offering consists of drinking water supply through 15 waterworks and approximately 15,000 kilometers of pipeline network, complemented by wastewater treatment through 46 facilities. Digital service tools include the Kostenrechner (cost calculator) and Rentabilitätsrechner (profitability calculator) for customer self-service, along with the Kundenportal einfach Heimat customer portal. The company also operates environmental education initiatives including the Wasser-Wald-Zentrum Schortens (opened October 2025), educational tours at waterworks and treatment plants, and the Wasser Wiki. Research and innovation projects (Smarte Lösungen) include AI-based groundwater monitoring (KIMoDis), water demand forecasting (SiTReg), and automated infrastructure inspection (ARIKI). Alternative water resource projects include gray water reuse and desalination research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drinking Water Supply (Trinkwasserversorgung) Reliable supply of fresh drinking water to private households, municipalities, and industrial customers through 15 waterworks and approximately 15,000 km of pipeline network across the service area.
• Wastewater Disposal (Abwasserbeseitigung) Sustainable wastewater collection, treatment, and environmental discharge through 46 sewage treatment plants (Kläranlagen) serving municipalities and private customers in the service area.
• Industrial Water Supply (Brauchwasserversorgung) Customized raw water and process water solutions for industrial customers to protect groundwater resources, including alternative water sourcing, indirect discharge monitoring (Indirekteinleiter), and process water supply through subsidiary iwag.
• Water and Wastewater Connection Services (Anschluss) Connection services for new drinking water and wastewater connections, including connection registration, connection charges, and meter installation for households, municipalities, and businesses.
• Standpipe Rental (Standrohrvermietung) Rental of portable standpipes (Standrohre) for temporary water supply at construction sites, events, and other temporary use cases.
• Garden Water Meter (Absetzzähler) Installation of secondary water meters (Absetzzähler) that allow private customers to deduct outdoor water consumption (e.g., garden irrigation) from wastewater billing.
• Waterworks Operations (Wasserwerke) Operation of 15 drinking water production facilities (Wasserwerke) that pump, treat, and distribute drinking water throughout the service area in northwestern Germany.
• Wastewater Treatment Plants (Kläranlagen) Operation of 46 sewage treatment plants (Kläranlagen) across the service area for collection, treatment, and environmentally responsible discharge of wastewater.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 million people served daily with drinking water
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iwag (Industriewasserversorgungsgesellschaft Nordwest-Niedersachsen mbH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partneriwag is a subsidiary of the OOWV that specializes in industrial water supply, providing alternative water resource solutions for industrial customers to protect groundwater.
• Niedersachsen WassercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA subsidiary of the OOWV contributing specialized expertise to the OOWV's role as a water competency center (Kompetenzzentrum Wasser).
• Stadt.Land.GrüncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA subsidiary of the OOWV complementing the OOWV's services with specialized capabilities, completing the OOWV as a Kompetenzzentrum Wasser (Water Competency Center).
• Operator Partnership SansibarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational operator partnership program in Sansibar for capacity building and knowledge exchange in water supply and wastewater management.
• Operator Partnership South Africa (East London)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerModel project for developing an energy-efficient sewage treatment plant in East London, South Africa (FKKP), under the operator partnership program.
• Solidarity Operator Partnership UkraineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolidarity partnership with Ukrainian water suppliers in Sumy and Chernihiv, providing support for water supply operations during the conflict.
• Operator Partnership SambiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperator partnership in Zambia under the international cooperation program, supporting local water management development.
• Baltic Water Network (BaltAqua)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management network with Baltic countries (BaltAqua) for knowledge exchange and collaborative water management solutions across the Baltic Sea region.
• Training Networks Rwanda and Ghana (NEWW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining networks (NEWW - New Education for Water Management) in Rwanda and Ghana for capacity building and skills development in water management.
• VKU (Verband kommunaler Unternehmen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OOWV is a member of VKU, the association of municipal enterprises in Germany, representing shared interests of public utilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Gelsenwasser AG: Gelsenwasser is one of Germany's largest water utilities, supplying drinking water to multiple municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Like OOWV, it operates as a regional Flächenversorger with treatment facilities, pipeline networks, and a regulated monopoly in its service area, making it the most directly comparable German water utility peer.
• Harzwasserwerke GmbH: Dam-and-reservoir based water utility in Lower Saxony operating reservoir infrastructure and long-distance raw water supply. Comparable to OOWV in regional footprint and water-resource infrastructure scale.
• EWE Wasser GmbH: Water utility subsidiary of EWE AG serving parts of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Pomerania. Regional overlap with OOWV's Lower Saxony footprint and similar mix of municipal supply, drinking water production, and wastewater services.
• Hamburg Wasser: Joint water and wastewater utility for Hamburg and surrounding regions, serving ~2 million people. Operates a comparable integrated water + wastewater model with public-law ownership and regulated tariffs, providing a strong German benchmark for OOWV's revenue and cost structure.
• Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB): Berlin's municipal water and wastewater utility serving ~3.8 million residents, operating drinking water production, sewage treatment, and a large pipeline network. Same business model as OOWV (public-law utility, integrated water + wastewater, regulated tariffs), though at a larger urban scale.
• Zweckverband Bodensee-Wasserversorgung: Inter-municipal water association supplying drinking water from Lake Constance to ~4 million people across Baden-Württemberg. Directly comparable as another German Flächenversorger Verbandsmodell with long-distance raw water transport and treatment infrastructure.
• Wahnbachtalsperrenverband: Water supply association based on the Wahnbach reservoir, serving the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region. Smaller but analogous Verbandsstruktur with comparable public-law governance and infrastructure-driven service delivery model.
• Münchner Stadtentwässerung (MSE) / Stadtwerke München: Municipal water and wastewater operator for Munich, combining Stadtwerke München's water supply with MSE's extensive sewer and treatment operations. Peer because of integrated water cycle operations and public ownership akin to OOWV.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Eau (Veolia Environnement): One of the world's largest private water and wastewater service operators with municipal concessions across Europe. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering water/wastewater O&M, customer service, and digital water solutions at much larger scale across geographies.
• Severn Trent plc: UK-listed regulated water and wastewater utility serving ~4.5 million households in the UK. Useful as a benchmark for capital-intensive regulated water utility economics, capex programs, and digital water innovation, though in a different geography and ownership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/meinoowv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@oowv6885
• Facebookfacebook.com/meinoowv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oowv
• Instagraminstagram.com/mein.oowv

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Oldenburgisch-Ostfriesischer Wasserverband