What Fernwasserversorgung Franken does

The business model is built on long-term B2G/B2B water supply contracts with municipal partners, with revenue generated through volume-based Wasserlieferungsentgelt (water supply charges) and a publicly disclosed Anschlussbeitrag of 0.76 EUR per cubic meter of annual ordered volume plus statutory VAT (effective 01.01.2023). Pricing is administered through published fee schedules (Kostensatzung) and water delivery contract conditions. Secondary revenue streams include laboratory testing services, technical operational management of third-party water facilities, and administrative fees (Gebühren und Auslagen) for official actions. Distribution occurs exclusively within Bavaria (Mittel- und Unterfranken, ~4,700 km²). Go-to-market is contract-driven rather than sales-driven: demand is a function of population need, regulatory compliance, and supply reliability. FWF's strategic posture emphasizes groundwater protection (195 ha of owned sustainably managed land, ~915 t CO₂ avoided annually through PV and hydropower), community engagement (~1,000 visitors/year at Sulzfeld tours, BDEW "Wasser macht Schule" participation, Wasserpakt Bayern and Wasserschutzbrot partnerships), and infrastructure modernization rather than commercial expansion.

Name

Fernwasserversorgung Franken

Legal name

Fernwasserversorgung Franken

Website

https://fernwasser-franken.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fernwasserversorgung Franken (FWF) is a purely municipal Zweckverband that supplies drinking water exclusively to 155 cities, towns, and local government entities across Middle and Lower Franconia, Bavaria, delivering approximately 18 million m³ annually to ~400,000 residents via a 1,100+ km pipeline network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Uffenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Trinkwasserlieferungsverträge (Municipal Water Supply): FWF supplies drinking water exclusively to cities, towns, and municipalities under long-term contracts. Revenue is generated through water supply fees charged to municipal partners, based on annual ordered volumes (annual bestellmenge). Water delivery at ~675 connection points to ~155 municipal partners serving ~400,000 residents. The connection fee (Anschlussbeitrag) is 0.76 EUR per cubic meter of annual ordered volume plus VAT.
2. Labor- und Untersuchungsleistungen (Laboratory Services): Accredited laboratory provides water testing services (sensoric, physical, physico-chemical, microbiological, and selected chemical analyses) for groundwater, raw water, drinking water, and surface water per TrinkwV and EÜV, both for internal operations and external clients.
3. Betriebsführung und Betriebsbetreuung (Operational Management Services): FWF offers technical operational management of water supply facilities to other municipalities, including water resource management, energy management, and technical operation of water supply systems.
4. Verwaltungskosten (Amtshandlungen / Administrative Fees): Administrative fees (Gebühren und Auslagen) charged for official actions (Amtshandlungen) within FWF's own remit, governed by a published fee schedule (Kostensatzung).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FWF is a purely municipal Zweckverband that extracts groundwater, treats it (oxygenation, iron/manganese filtration, activated carbon, disinfection), and delivers drinking water exclusively to cities, towns, and local government entities across Middle and Lower Franconia. It operates ~1,100 km of transport pipelines, five treatment plants (730 l/s), 35+ pumping stations, and 51 storage tanks, supplying approximately 18 million m³ per year to 155 municipal partners serving ~400,000 residents. It does not supply end consumers directly.

Product overview

Fernwasserversorgung Franken (FWF) is a municipal water supply association providing comprehensive drinking water services across Middle and Lower Franconia. The core offering is the Trinkwasserversorgung, delivering approximately 18 million m³ annually to 155 municipal partners through an extensive 1,123 km pipeline network with 51 storage facilities and 35+ pumping stations. Supporting the core water supply are specialized services including an ISO 17025 accredited water testing laboratory, water works tours, remote meter reading systems, pipeline information services for construction projects, operational management consulting, and voluntary compensation programs for farmers in water protection zones. The company also provides educational initiatives including drinking water dispenser programs for schools and public water education campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trinkwasserversorgung (Drinking Water Supply)
• Akkreditiertes Trinkwasserlabor (Accredited Drinking Water Laboratory)
• Betriebsführung und Betriebsbetreuung (Operational Management Services)
• Wasserwerksbesichtigungen (Waterworks Guided Tours)
• Planauskunft (Pipeline Information Service)
• Zählerfernauslesung (Remote Meter Reading)
• Ausgleichs- und Entschädigungsleistungen (Compensation Services for Water Protection Zones)
• Trinkwasserspender-Förderung (Drinking Water Dispenser Subsidies)

Quantifiable outcome

• ~18 Mio. m³ drinking water supplied annually; ~400,000 residents served via 155 municipal partners
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BAURConsult Architekten IngenieureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023BAURConsult Architekten Ingenieure served as a partner in the federally funded project (Nationale Klimaschutzinitiative / BMWK) for replacing air compressors at Sulzfeld waterworks (KSI:BA120, Förderkennzeichen 67K19980). Project focused on energetic optimization of compressors for drinking water treatment, implemented in early 2024.
• Wasserpakt Bayern (Bayerische Staatsregierung)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022The Wasserpakt is a Bavarian state initiative re-signed in December 2022 with 15 partners from water production, supply, associations, and institutions. FWF contributes through consumer awareness campaigns (waterworks tours, Aquatower dispensers), groundwater protection projects (Wasserschutzbrot, vineyard greening, voluntary cooperation agreements with farmers), sustainable land management (195 ha of own property), and biodiversity projects (Ökokonto).
• Wasserschutzbrot (Aktion Grundwasserschutz — Regierung Unter-/Mittel-/Oberfranken)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015FWF is a cooperation partner in the Wasserschutzbrot initiative promoting reduced nitrogen fertilization of wheat grown in water protection zones. ~20 participating bakeries in the FWF area sell bread products made from low-nitrogen wheat. FWF provides financial compensation to participating farmers for yield losses and advises on groundwater-protective farming. Recognized by the Regierungspräsident in 2019.
• Landwirtschaftliche Lehranstalten TriesdorfminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Collaboration on the 'Mehrjähriger Energiepflanzenanbau' (multi-year energy crop cultivation) project, testing Riesenweizengras (giant wheatgrass) and Durchwachsene Silphie (cup plant) in FWF's water protection zones. The project investigates suitability for biogas production while improving groundwater quality through reduced nitrogen leaching. FWF promotes cultivation among farmers; Triesdorf provides research and technical support. The project was later expanded under the government's Aktion Grundwasserschutz Mittelfranken.
• Genossenschaft Vinaqua VolkachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter 10 years of FWF planning and investment, the Genossenschaft Vinaqua Volkach took over a vineyard irrigation system (Weinbergbetropfungsanlage) with associated water reservoirs. Approximately 30 ha of vineyards benefit from continuous irrigation enabling year-round soil cover, reducing erosion, improving water infiltration, reducing nitrate leaching, increasing soil CO₂ storage, and providing flood protection.
• Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft (BDEW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFWF participates in BDEW initiatives including 'Wasser macht Schule' (educational materials for schools on water), the 'Trinkwasser unterwegs' app (public drinking fountain locator), and BDEW FAQ on PFAS. FWF also contributes to BDEW's water protection advocacy and climate adaptation programs.
• Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (LfU Bayern)minorOthersLfU Bayern operates the 'Schau auf die Rohre' (Look at the Pipes) platform providing case studies on drinking water and wastewater networks in Bavaria. FWF is featured in five case studies covering pipe replacement decision criteria, 20-year modernization planning, customer surveys for planning support, proactive vs. reactive financing, and learning from industry benchmarking.
• NaCoSi Forschungsverbund (BMBF-gefördert)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFWF participated as one of twelve practice partners in the NaCoSi (Nachhaltigkeitscontrolling siedlungswasserwirtschaftlicher Systeme) BMBF research project under the INIS funding measure. FWF tested a sustainability control prototype for identifying risks and developing steering instruments for sustainable municipal water management.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zweckverband Fernwasserversorgung Oberfranken (FWO): Regional Fernwasserversorgung Zweckverband for Upper Franconia, structurally identical to FWF: municipal-owned long-distance drinking water supplier serving Bavarian municipalities through extraction, treatment, and pipeline transport. Directly comparable in Zweckverband governance, customer base, and regulatory environment.
• Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Kurpfalz: Zweckverband supplying drinking water to municipalities in the Kurpfalz region of Baden-Württemberg. Closely comparable to FWF in governance structure (Zweckverband), regional long-distance water supply model, and reliance on groundwater sources.
• Zweckverband für Wasserversorgung und Abwasserbeseitigung (ZWA) Saalfeld-Rudolstadt: Thuringian Zweckverband for drinking water supply and wastewater disposal. Comparable to FWF as a small-to-mid-sized German municipal water Zweckverband operating regional extraction, treatment, and distribution infrastructure to municipal partners.
• Bodensee-Wasserversorgung: One of Germany's largest Fernwasserversorgung associations, supplying drinking water from Lake Constance to ~320 municipalities across Baden-Württemberg. Directly comparable to FWF as a Zweckverband-style long-distance water utility operating regional pipeline infrastructure under public ownership.
• Zweckverband Landeswasserversorgung: Stuttgart-based state-level water supply Zweckverband serving municipalities in Baden-Württemberg with long-distance drinking water. Directly comparable to FWF in legal form (Zweckverband), product (drinking water transport and treatment), and customer type (municipalities).
• Gelsenwasser AG: Major German water utility headquartered in Gelsenkirchen, supplying drinking water to municipal utilities and industrial customers across NRW and beyond. Comparable to FWF as a wholesale water supplier operating large-scale extraction, treatment, and distribution infrastructure, though structured as an AG rather than a Zweckverband.

Regional players

• Mainova AG: Frankfurt-based municipal utility supplying drinking water, electricity, gas, and heat. Comparable to FWF in drinking water supply activity and municipal heritage, though diversified across multiple utility lines.
• Hamburg Wasser: Hamburg's municipal water and wastewater utility serving ~1.8 million residents. Comparable to FWF in municipal utility mandate and integrated drinking water operations, though geographically and demographically distinct.
• Berliner Wasserbetriebe (BWB): Berlin's municipal water utility, one of Germany's largest, supplying drinking water to ~3.7 million residents. Comparable to FWF in core activity (drinking water extraction, treatment, distribution) but operates in a single metropolitan region rather than across rural Franconia.
• Stadtwerke München (SWM / Münchner Stadtwerke): Munich's municipal multi-utility with one of Germany's largest drinking water operations (Münchner Trinkwasser). Comparable to FWF as a publicly owned water utility, though SWM operates in a water-rich Alpine region and also runs energy and public transport.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fernwasserversorgung-franken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Fernwasserversorgung Franken