AZV Südholstein

What AZV Südholstein does

AZV Südholstein (legal name: Abwasser-Zweckverband Südholstein) is a public-law municipal wastewater corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) headquartered at Am Heuhafen 2, 25491 Hetlingen, Germany. Founded in 1965 as Abwasser-Zweckverband Pinneberg and renamed on 1 February 2018, the organization celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025. It serves approximately 60 member municipalities and roughly 520,000 residents across Kreis Pinneberg, parts of Kreise Segeberg and Steinburg, and selected western districts of Hamburg. Governance is exercised through a Verbandsversammlung (association assembly), chaired since December 2025 by Rolf Apfeld, with Christine Mesek serving as Verbandsvorsteherin.

The organization operates four wastewater treatment plants — Hetlingen (the largest in Schleswig-Holstein), Glückstadt, Lentföhrden, and Helgoland — using the Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) procedure to process approximately 32 million cubic meters of wastewater annually. It also operates and maintains more than 900 km of sewer networks and over 200 pump and transfer stations. The asset base includes sludge thickening, dewatering, digestion, and drying infrastructure (Klärschlammverwertung), biogas production via methanisation feeding combined heat and power units (BHKW), and a newly commissioned photovoltaic system at Kläranlage Hetlingen (January 2025) targeting energy neutrality. Mechanical wastewater treatment (MAR) modernization at Hetlingen was completed in September 2024.

Revenue is generated through a regulated, multi-stream model: annual municipal contributions (Verbandsbeiträge) from member municipalities, usage-based wastewater fees (Schmutzwassergebühr for wastewater, Niederschlagswassergebühr for stormwater), and dedicated charges for industrial and commercial customers (Gewerbliches Abwasser). Fee schedules are set by the Verbandsversammlung under the Verbandssatzung and applicable Gebührensatzungen and are not publicly disclosed. Supporting services include property drainage (Grundstücksentwässerung), residual material reception (Reststoffannahme), a digital committee information system (Gremieninformationssystem), and certified environmental and sustainability education programs. The organization holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, has approximately 300 employees, and is currently expanding its service area through ongoing public-law transfers of wastewater disposal tasks from neighboring municipalities.

Name

AZV Südholstein

Legal name

Abwasser-Zweckverband Südholstein

Website

https://azv.sh

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

AZV Südholstein is a public-law municipal wastewater association in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, serving approximately 60 member municipalities and 520,000 residents via four treatment plants and over 900 km of canal networks under statutory monopoly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Wastewater Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (221)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Decentralized/Package Wastewater Systems (Small/Remote) (EUANADAE)

Keywords

• Municipal wastewater treatment
• Sewer network operations
• Industrial wastewater management
• Sludge utilization services
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hetlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal contributions (Verbandsbeiträge): AZV Südholstein operates as a public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts). Revenue is generated through contributions and fees paid by its ~60 member municipalities, who in turn collect wastewater fees from residents and businesses. This is a recurring, contribution-based model tied to municipal service agreements.
2. Abwassergebühren (Wastewater fees): Fees collected from households, industry, and commerce for wastewater collection and treatment services, including Schmutzwassergebühr (wastewater fee), Niederschlagswassergebühr (rainwater fee), and commercial wastewater charges. These are usage-based fees.
3. Gewerbliches Abwasser: Dedicated services and fees for commercial and industrial wastewater customers with specific treatment requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AZV Südholstein is a public-law municipal wastewater association that provides statutory wastewater collection, transportation, and treatment services for about 60 member municipalities and approximately 520,000 residents in southwestern Schleswig-Holstein and parts of Hamburg. It operates four treatment plants (Hetlingen, Glückstadt, Lentföhrden, Helgoland) with the Hetlingen plant being the largest in Schleswig-Holstein, processes roughly 32 million cubic meters of wastewater per year, and maintains over 900 km of canal networks plus more than 200 pump and transfer stations. Related services include industrial wastewater management, sludge utilization, property drainage support, residual material reception, and certified environmental education programs.

Product overview

AZV Südholstein operates as a public-law wastewater association (Abwasser-Zweckverband) providing comprehensive wastewater management services. The core offering centers on wastewater treatment through four plants in Hetlingen, Glückstadt, Lentföhrden, and Helgoland, processing approximately 32 million cubic meters annually. The service portfolio includes sewer network operation (over 700 km), wastewater treatment using SBR procedure, industrial wastewater management, sludge utilization, and administrative billing services. Supporting offerings encompass property drainage services, residual material reception, an online committee information system for members, and environmental education programs for schools and kindergartens. The organization also provides accessibility features including easy language and sign language content. This is a public utility service provider rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Abwasserreinigung (Wastewater Treatment) Core wastewater treatment service using the SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) procedure to purify sewage from residential, commercial, and industrial sources before safe discharge into local waterways.
• Klärwerke / Kläranlagen (Wastewater Treatment Plants) Operation of four wastewater treatment plants located in Hetlingen (main facility, the largest in Schleswig-Holstein), Glückstadt, Lentföhrden, and Helgoland, processing approximately 32 million cubic meters of wastewater annually.
• Kanalnetze (Sewer Network Operations) Operation and maintenance of over 900 kilometers of sewer pipelines plus more than 200 pump and transfer stations for collecting and transporting wastewater from households and businesses to treatment facilities.
• Gebührenabrechnung (Wastewater Fee Billing) Billing services for wastewater fees (Schmutzwassergebühr), rainwater fees (Niederschlagswassergebühr), and garden/rainwater utilization billing for residential and commercial customers.
• Grundstücksentwässerung (Property Drainage Services) Property drainage services including pipe inquiries, new construction, leak testing (Dichtheitsprüfung), backflow protection (Rückstausicherung), and certified contractor listings for property owners.
• Gewerbliches Abwasser (Industrial Wastewater Management) Treatment and management services for industrial and commercial wastewater, including monitoring and compliance with discharge regulations under the Indirekteinleitersatzung.
• Klärschlammverwertung (Sludge Utilization) Processing and utilization of wastewater treatment sludge including thickening, dewatering, digestion, and drying for beneficial use of biosolids.
• Reststoffannahme (Residual Material Reception) Acceptance services for residual materials and specialty waste streams compatible with wastewater treatment processes.
• Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitsbildung (Environmental and Sustainability Education) Certified educational programs including AQUA-AGENTEN, Wasserforscher, KITA21 - Die Klimaretter, water research projects, and multiplier training for sustainability awareness targeting schools, kindergartens, and trainees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32,000,000 m³ of wastewater treated annually across four plants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Planeteers GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cooperation between the Hamburg-based start-up Planeteers and AZV Südholstein to install a pilot plant (Versuchsanlage) at the Kläranlage Hetlingen. The pilot plant uses the anaerobic digestion process to convert waste streams into valuable resources, contributing to climate protection efforts. AZV provides the facility infrastructure and operational environment; Planeteers provides the technology solution. The partnership was announced around September 2024.
• Ostfalia Hochschule für Angewandte WissenschaftenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual study program partnership with the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences. AZV Südholstein offers students a combined academic and practical program in civil engineering with a focus on water and civil engineering (Schwerpunkt Wasser- und Tiefbau). Theory phases take place at the Ostfalia campus in Suderburg; practical work is conducted at the Kläranlage Hetlingen. AZV pays tuition fees and provides a monthly salary of €1,550 to students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Erftverband: Water association for the Erft region in North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable German Wasserwirtschaftsverband with similar public-law framework, multi-plant operations, and combined wastewater treatment and water management responsibilities.
• Niersverband: Water association for the Niers catchment in North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable mid-sized German Wasserwirtschaftsverband with similar public-law structure, multi-plant operations, and combined wastewater/waterway management.
• Emschergenossenschaft / Lippeverband (EGLV): Major German waterway association serving the Emscher and Lippe regions. Comparable as a Wasserwirtschaftsverband following similar public-law framework, with comparable scale of wastewater treatment and canal network operations.
• Wupperverband: Water association for the Wupper catchment in North Rhine-Westphalia. Comparable as a German Zweckverband handling wastewater treatment and water management, similar public-law corporation structure.
• Ruhrverband: Water management association for the Ruhr region. Comparable as a German Wasserwirtschaftsverband handling wastewater treatment, waterway maintenance, and reservoir operations under public law, with similar scale and regulatory framework.
• Münchner Stadtentwässerung (MSE): Munich's municipal wastewater utility. Comparable large-scale municipal wastewater operator in Germany with similar public-law structure, multi-plant operations, and energy recovery from biogas. Different geography but parallel operating model.
• Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB): Berlin's municipal water and wastewater utility. Comparable as a large-scale municipal wastewater operator in Germany, but operates at a much larger scale and across both water supply and wastewater. Direct parallel for AZV in terms of public-law municipal utility structure.
• Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt am Main: Frankfurt's municipal wastewater utility. Comparable as a large German municipal wastewater operator with similar public-law status, multi-plant operations, and energy recovery initiatives.

Regional players

• Stadtentwässerung Hannover (Stadt Hannover): Hanover's municipal wastewater utility. Comparable as a German municipal wastewater operator with similar public-law structure, multi-plant operations, and energy recovery programs. Operates in a different geography (Lower Saxony).
• Hamburger Stadtentwässerung (HSE): Hamburg's municipal wastewater utility. Directly comparable as a German municipal wastewater association serving a major metropolitan area; AZV actually serves selected western districts of Hamburg, creating partial overlap. Similar regulatory framework and asset base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/azv-s%C3%BCdholstein

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 AZV Südholstein