hanseWasser

What hanseWasser does

hanseWasser Bremen GmbH is a municipally owned wastewater and stormwater utility serving the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany. The company operates two of Germany's largest wastewater treatment plants — Kläranlage Seehausen (in service since the mid-1960s) and Kläranlage Farge (in service since the early 1970s) — together with a 2,300 km canal network, supported by a 24/7 SCADA-based process control center and a fleet of twelve high-pressure sewer cleaning vehicles. Its service portfolio is segmented across citizens (residential advice, backflow protection, stormwater fee management), commercial and industrial enterprises (wastewater discharge permits, industrial treatment plant operations), and other municipalities (canal services, disposal, consulting).

Revenue is generated primarily through regulated municipal fees: a volume-based Schmutzwassergebühr (wastewater fee) calculated per cubic meter of discharge and a separated Niederschlagswassergebühr (stormwater fee) calculated per square meter of sealed surface area, both set by municipal fee ordinances. Supplementary income streams include canal cleaning, inspection and rehabilitation services, disposal and transport services (including fecal waste collection), industrial treatment-plant Betriebsführung (operational management), and advisory services. The company distributes through a hybrid of digital self-service portals (service.hansewasser.de, regenwasserbremen.de, lieferanten-portal.hansewasser.de), a customer hotline, and field-service teams operating within Bremen.

Governance sits with the city of Bremen as sole owner; the company is led by a co-CEO team appointed in March 2025. hanseWasser has been CO2-neutral since 2015, holds EMAS, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, and has received four consecutive European Energy Award Gold statuses alongside the 2023 DWA Klimapreis. The company is actively participating in the European Benchmarking Cooperation, the Clean Phosphor Initiative, and international sustainability projects in partnership with HAMBURG Wasser.

Name

hanseWasser

Legal name

hanseWasser Bremen GmbH

Website

https://hansewasser.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

hanseWasser is a municipally owned wastewater utility in Bremen, Germany, operating two large treatment plants and a 2,300 km canal network. It serves citizens, businesses, and municipalities through regulated wastewater and stormwater fees and ancillary canal and disposal services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Wastewater Management

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Industrial Wastewater & Effluent Treatment Services (BPALAHAD), Regulatory Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (SDWA/CWA/NPDES, permits, audits) (EUANAJAA)

Keywords

• Municipal wastewater services
• Sewage treatment
• Stormwater management
• Canal network operations
• Industrial wastewater disposal

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Abwassergebühren (Wastewater fees): Municipal wastewater treatment fees (Gebühren) charged to citizens and businesses based on property size, paved surfaces connected to the public drainage system, and wastewater volume. Revenue is regulated under municipal fee ordinances (Gebührenortsgesetz). Part of the split drainage fee structure distinguishes between wastewater and stormwater charges.
2. Niederschlagswassergebühr (Stormwater fee): Separate fee charged based on the area of paved, built-on, and sealed surfaces on a property that are connected to the public drainage system. Calculated per square meter of contributory area.
3. Kanaldienstleistungen (Canal services): Fees for canal maintenance, inspection, cleaning, and repair services provided to municipalities and businesses, including canal TV inspection, high-pressure flushing, and pipeline rehabilitation (Inliner/sectional lining).
4. Entsorgungsdienstleistungen (Disposal services): Disposal and transport services for waste generated during wastewater conveyance and treatment, including sludge transport, hazardous waste removal, and fecal waste collection (Fäkalabfuhr) for properties not connected to the sewer network.
5. Betriebsführung Kläranlagen (Treatment plant operations): Operational management and maintenance services for wastewater treatment plants for municipalities and industrial clients (e.g., the cooperation with Badenhop Fleischwerke KG for their new industrial treatment plant).
6. Beratungs- und Serviceangebote (Advisory services): Technical consulting services for private individuals (backflow protection, surface water protection), businesses (industrial wastewater discharge permits), and municipalities (water management, infrastructure planning).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

hanseWasser Bremen GmbH is the municipal wastewater utility for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, operating two large wastewater treatment plants (Seehausen and Farge), a 2,300 km canal/sewer network, and providing stormwater management, canal cleaning and inspection, disposal services, and advisory services to citizens, businesses, and municipalities under a regulated municipal fee model.

Product overview

hanseWasser Bremen GmbH is a municipal wastewater management company providing a comprehensive portfolio of wastewater and drainage services for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. The core offering centers on Stadtentwässerung und Abwasserreinigung — the operation and maintenance of Bremen's sewer network and two large treatment plants in Seehausen and Farge, supported by 24/7 central process control. This core is delivered through three targeted service lines: Service für Bremer Bürger*innen (residential), Service für Unternehmen (commercial/industrial), and Service für Kommunen (other municipalities). Layered atop the core operations are digital service portals — the Online-Portal Niederschlagswassergebühr for property-level stormwater fee submission, the hanseWasser Serviceportal for general customer self-service, and the Lieferantenportal for supplier management — along with the Abwassertour educational program and a fleet of twelve high-pressure sewer cleaning vehicles. An Integriertes Managementsystem (iMAS) orchestrates quality, environmental, and safety standards across all offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stadtentwässerung und Abwasserreinigung (Municipal Wastewater Treatment) Core wastewater management service comprising the operation and maintenance of Bremen's sewer network and two large wastewater treatment plants (Seehausen and Farge), supported by 24/7 central process control (Prozessleittechnik / SCADA) for continuous monitoring and control.
• Service für Bremer Bürger*innen (Service for Bremen Residents) Municipal service offering for Bremen residents covering stormwater prevention (Starkregen-Vorsorge), backflow protection (Rückstauschutz), surface water protection, property drainage consultation, private construction support, and disposal services.
• Service für Unternehmen (Service for Businesses) Service offering for commercial and industrial enterprises including commercial construction projects, wastewater discharge permit management, consulting services, and commercial disposal.
• Service für Kommunen (Service for Municipalities) Municipal partner services for surrounding Bremer Kommunen and public entities, including canal operations, fecal waste disposal, water management consulting, and disposal services.
• Online-Portal Niederschlagswassergebühr (Stormwater Fee Online Portal) Dedicated online self-service portal at regenwasserbremen.de for property owners to submit data for calculation of the split stormwater fee (getrennte Entwässerungsgebühr / Niederschlagswassergebühr), integrating municipal geo-data from the Landesamt Geoinformation Bremen and swb water utility consumption data.
• hanseWasser Lieferantenportal (Supplier Portal) Digital supplier portal for suppliers and contractors to access procurement-related information, tender documents, and transaction data with an accompanying training center for supplier onboarding.
• Abwassertour (Wastewater Tour) Educational tour program for 4th to 6th grade school classes introducing children to urban drainage, wastewater treatment processes, and the importance of environmental protection for public health.
• Kanalreinigungsflotte (Sewer Cleaning Fleet) Fleet of twelve high-pressure sewer cleaning vehicles, including a new 4-axle, 625 PS jetting truck (Spülwagen 634) launched in April 2023, capable of cleaning sewers up to 3.2 m diameter with a tank volume of 11,500 liters and water recovery system. The fleet cleans approximately 700 km of the 2,300 km canal network annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2-neutral wastewater treatment since 2015 — achieved through kliEN climate protection and energy efficiency program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Multivision e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026hanseWasser supports the WasserWelten project day, part of the WasserVision education initiative by the non-profit association Multivision e.V. The initiative reaches approximately 120,000 students annually across Germany and was recognized by the German UNESCO Commission and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for outstanding commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (BNE).
• Senatorin für Umwelt, Klima und Wissenschaft (Bremen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Bremen\'s Senator for Environment, Climate, and Science participates in the WasserWelten podium discussions and collaborates on water resource education. Senator Kathrin Moosdorf officially inaugurated the new pump station and stormwater retention basin in Findorff in June 2025.
• Badenhop Fleischwerke KG (Verden)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Long-term cooperation agreement for the operational management of a newly built industrial wastewater treatment plant (Betriebsklär-anlage) for the meat processing company in Verden, Lower Saxony. This represents hanseWasser\'s expansion into industrial treatment plant operations beyond Bremen.
• Werder BremenflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 September 2024Official partnership (Offizielle Partnerschaft) with Werder Bremen, the city\'s professional football club. The partnership, launched in September 2024, was extended in June 2026. Includes support for both the men\'s and women\'s teams. Joint initiatives include the \'Frauen können Führung\' (Women can lead) program, Run4Water charity runs, and B2Run corporate running events. The partnership emphasizes shared values of performance, sustainability, and community engagement.
• Hochschule BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the WasserWelten project day, contributing academic expertise to the podium discussion on water resource challenges alongside hanseWasser representatives.
• BUND Landesverband BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advocacy organization (BUND) participating in the WasserWelten project day and a long-standing cooperation partner of hanseWasser for environmental education initiatives.
• botanika BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBremen\'s botanical garden, a long-standing cooperation partner of hanseWasser for environmental education. The Zwergotter (otter) enclosure at botanika was partially funded through hanseWasser\'s employee rounding-up donation program (Restcents), reflecting a long-term community engagement partnership.
• Ökologiestation BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation partner for environmental education programs, collaborating with hanseWasser on educational initiatives for children and youth.
• swb, BSAG, Bremer StadtreinigungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOther Bremen municipal utilities (swb - energy/water, BSAG - public transport, Bremer Stadtreinigung - waste management) collaborating on the Daseinsvorsorge (public utilities) awareness campaign to inform citizens about essential municipal services.
• Ingenieurkammer BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBremen Chamber of Engineers conducts regular visits to hanseWasser facilities, providing professional exchange and networking opportunities for engineering professionals.
• European Benchmarking Cooperation (EBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive participant in the European Benchmarking Cooperation network for water and wastewater utilities. hanseWasser serves as coordinator in international benchmarking workshops (hosted in Turin 2025, Utrecht 2025) and was awarded \'Coordinator of the Year\' in 2025. Also developed a Scope 3 emissions guideline for the wastewater sector.
• HAMBURG WassercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Hamburg\'s municipal water utility for international sustainability projects, including the Jordan water management initiative that received the German International Sustainability Prize in 2024. Collaboration on the Initiative Sauberer Phosphor 2029 (Clean Phosphor Initiative).
• Initiative Sauberer Phosphor 2029minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerhanseWasser is a member of the Clean Phosphor Initiative, a sector-wide effort to recover and recycle phosphorus from wastewater treatment residuals, contributing to circular economy goals in the German water sector.
• Universität Bremen (UFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technologies (UFT) at the University of Bremen on innovative research projects, including pharmaceutical residue monitoring in wastewater (visited May 2024).
• Städtepartnerschaften (Windhoek, Durban)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExchange program through city and operator partnerships with Windhoek (Namibia) and Durban (South Africa), with delegations visiting hanseWasser facilities in September 2025 for knowledge sharing on wastewater management in different climatic contexts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HAMBURG Wasser: Hamburg's municipal water and wastewater utility operating under the same German municipal-GmbH model. Direct strategic partner on the Jordan sustainability project, comparable in scale, mandate, and governance structure to hanseWasser.
• HSE Technik (Darmstadt): Technical services subsidiary of HSE (HEAG Südhessische Energie) operating Darmstadt's wastewater and energy infrastructure. Comparable mid-size German municipal wastewater operator with adjacent energy-services mandate.
• Berliner Wasserbetriebe: Berlin's municipal water and wastewater utility, the largest in Germany. Operates Berlin's sewer network and treatment plants under a comparable municipal ownership model, making it the closest scale and structural peer.
• Münchner Stadtentwässerung: Munich's municipal wastewater utility, operating the world's largest clarification tower at Gut Großlappen. Directly comparable in scale and in managing combined sewer networks for a major German city.
• Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurt's municipal wastewater utility, operating one of Europe's largest treatment plants. Closely comparable municipal wastewater utility with similar regulated fee model and major infrastructure footprint.
• Emschergenossenschaft / Lippeverband: Public-law water management association for the Emscher and Lippe river basins, operating extensive wastewater infrastructure in NRW. Comparable in regulated wastewater mandate and integrated waterway management role.

Regional players

• Kölner Abfallwirtschaftsbetriebe und Stadtreinigung: Cologne's municipal waste management and cleaning services company. Comparable as a municipal GmbH operating regulated environmental services, though focused on solid waste rather than wastewater.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions (Germany): German arm of Veolia's global water services business. Competes with hanseWasser for industrial Betriebskläranlage operations contracts (like the Badenhop opportunity) and operates municipal concessions across Germany.
• Remondis Aqua: Water and wastewater division of Remondis, one of Europe's largest privately owned environmental services groups. Competes broadly across municipal and industrial wastewater services in Germany.

Others

• DWA (Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall): Germany's national water sector association that awarded hanseWasser the 2023 Klimapreis. Not a competitor but a key sector body, certification authority, and benchmarking convener for municipal wastewater utilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfDCYpg7rbnjAaG_IgkR3nA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hanseWasser
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hansewasser-bremen-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/hansewasser
• Xx.com/hanseWasser

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 hanseWasser