KASSELWASSER

What KASSELWASSER does

KASSELWASSER is a municipal enterprise (Eigenbetrieb) wholly owned by the City of Kassel, Germany, responsible for drinking water supply, wastewater collection and treatment, flood protection, and — since 2023 — operation of the Kasseler Stadtschleuse city lock on the Fulda River. The organization serves approximately 220,000 residents in Kassel and Vellmar through a vertically integrated infrastructure footprint: 19 springs in Habichtswald and Kaufunger Wald, 17 deep wells in Kassel and Simmershausen, Fulda riverbank filtration, 8 waterworks, 19 storage tanks, and a 1,300 km distribution network. Wastewater is collected through a municipal canal network and processed at a centralized treatment plant, with hazardous rain events addressed through a published hazard map and public warning system. The company also operates a state-recognized laboratory for drinking water and wastewater compliance testing and runs the historic Neue Mühle hydroelectric plant, which generates approximately 2.5 GWh annually for around 1,000 households.

The business model is built on regulated, usage-based municipal fees. Residential and commercial customers pay a drinking water consumption charge of €1.65/m³ (effective January 2025) plus an annual availability charge (e.g., €118.22 for a single dwelling unit). Wastewater fees are charged at €2.86/m³ of fresh water consumed. Additional revenue streams include permits for facade cleaning discharges, separator systems, small treatment facilities, laboratory services, and passage fees for the city lock. The customer base splits broadly into residential citizens (primary segment), industrial and commercial enterprises requiring water quality consultation and wastewater compliance, and property owners/developers requesting new connections. Public-facing digital channels include the website, a German-language service portal for fee management, Instagram, and Reddit, with distribution otherwise entirely through the physical pipe network.

Recent strategic activity is incremental and mandate-driven rather than market-driven. The 2023 launch of the Kasseler Stadtschleuse added a new fee-generating service line, and the 2024 rollout of 35 public drinking water fountains (with 10 additional fountains planned annually through 2027) extends the public-service footprint. Fee increases were approved in 2024 with a further ordinance amendment in 2025, reflecting rising energy, materials, and personnel costs. Technical operations of water extraction, treatment, distribution, and laboratory analysis are performed on KASSELWASSER's behalf by Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH (NSG), a 100% subsidiary of Städtische Werke AG, under a structure established since 2012. KASSELWASSER is supervised by the Regierungspräsidium Kassel and operates on a cost-covering basis rather than for profit, with no external shareholders or private equity involvement.

Name

KASSELWASSER

Legal name

KASSELWASSER, Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Kassel

Website

https://kasselwasser.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KASSELWASSER is a municipal utility (Eigenbetrieb) of the City of Kassel, Germany, supplying drinking water, wastewater treatment, and flood protection to approximately 220,000 residents in Kassel and Vellmar, and operating the Kasseler Stadtschleuse city lock.

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 (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)

Keywords

• Municipal water utility
• Drinking water supply
• Wastewater treatment
• Flood protection services
• Sewerage network operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Kassel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Drinking Water Supply Fees: Fees for drinking water supply based on consumption (per cubic meter), meter fees based on connection size, and availability charges based on number of residential units. Revenue covers water extraction, treatment, and distribution costs.
2. Wastewater Collection and Treatment Fees: Fees for wastewater collection and treatment based on fresh water consumption. Covers operation of canal network, wastewater treatment plant, and flood control infrastructure.
3. Lock Operation Fees: Fees for commercial and recreational vessel passage through the Kasseler Stadtschleuse city lock.
4. Special Services and Permits: Fees for facade cleaning discharge permits, separator systems, small treatment and collection pits, laboratory services, and property drainage consulting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KASSELWASSER is a municipal utility that supplies drinking water to approximately 220,000 residents in Kassel and Vellmar via 19 springs, 17 deep wells, Fulda riverbank filtration, 8 waterworks, and a 1,300 km distribution network. The utility also plans, constructs, and operates wastewater facilities including the canal network and treatment plant, provides flood protection and stormwater management, operates the Kasseler Stadtschleuse city lock, and runs 35 public drinking water fountains.

Product overview

KASSELWASSER is a municipal utility (Eigenbetrieb der Stadt Kassel) offering three core services: drinking water supply, wastewater disposal, and operation of the Kasseler Stadtschleuse lock. The drinking water supply covers approximately 220,000 people in Kassel and Vellmar through 8 waterworks and a 1,300 km distribution network. The wastewater division manages canal networks and a treatment plant. Additional digital services include an online fee service portal, water hardness lookup tool, virtual treatment plant tours, heavy rain hazard mapping, and a network of 35 public drinking water fountains launched in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trinkwasserversorgung (Drinking Water Supply) KASSELWASSER supplies drinking water to approximately 220,000 residents in Kassel and Vellmar. Water is sourced from 19 springs in Habichtswald and Kaufunger Wald, 17 deep wells in Kassel and Simmershausen, and Uferfiltrat (riverbank filtration) from the Fulda river. Water is processed in 8 waterworks and distributed through a 1,300 km pipeline network with 19 storage tanks.
• Abwasserbeseitigung (Wastewater Disposal) KASSELWASSER plans, constructs, and operates all sewage facilities including the canal network and wastewater treatment plant (Klärwerk) for wastewater processing in Kassel and Vellmar. Wastewater fees are based on fresh water consumption at €2.86 per cubic meter (effective January 2025).
• Kasseler Stadtschleuse (City Lock) The Kassel City Lock enables boat passage on the Fulda River for commercial and recreational vessels. The lock chamber measures 35m usable length, 6.75m clear width, and 1.50m water depth at normal water levels. Operating seasonally from April through October with extended hours during summer months.
• Trinkwasserbrunnen (Public Drinking Water Fountains) 35 public drinking water fountains installed across Kassel for free public access. Each fountain features stainless steel housing, integrated cooling fan maintaining water temperature below 25°C, automatic 24-hour flushing program, and monthly microbiological quality testing. Operating season: March through October.

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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Städtische Werke Netz + Service GmbH (NSG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2012NSG is a 100% subsidiary of Städtische Werke AG. Since April 1, 2012, NSG has operated the electricity and gas networks, and since April 1, 2012, the water supply on behalf of KASSELWASSER. NSG handles water extraction, treatment, distribution, measurement, documentation, monitoring, and technical process control. NSG also operates a state-recognized laboratory for drinking water quality testing.
• Stadt Kassel (Amt für Kämmerei und Steuern)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe municipal treasury office issues water and wastewater fee notices and handles collection. Water fee invoices are issued under 'Stadt Kassel' but administered by KASSELWASSER. Additionally, the city collects Vellmar wastewater fees under a public law agreement.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stadtwerke München (SWM): Munich's municipal multi-utility including water supply serving ~820,000 households — comparable as a German municipal Eigenbetrieb providing drinking water, with broader energy portfolio.
• Münchner Stadtentwässerung: Munich's municipal wastewater and stormwater management entity — directly comparable as a German city-owned utility focused on sewage treatment and flood protection under municipal mandate.
• Hamburger Wasserwerke: Hamburg's municipal drinking water utility serving ~2 million residents — closely comparable as a public-sector water supplier with multi-source infrastructure and regulated fee model.
• Berliner Wasserbetriebe: Berlin's municipal water and wastewater utility, serving ~3.6 million residents — directly comparable as a German municipal Eigenbetrieb providing drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood protection under public mandate.

Others

• Wasserverband Eifel-Rur: German water association managing water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood protection in the Eifel-Rur region — comparable German municipal water sector entity though organized as a Wasserverband rather than Eigenbetrieb.

Regional players

• Niederrheinisch-Westfälischer Wasserwerksverband: Regional water association serving parts of NRW — comparable German water utility providing drinking water extraction, treatment, and distribution to municipalities under regulated model.
• Eurawasser Aufbereitungs- und Versorgungsgesellschaft mbH: Regional water supply company serving parts of North Rhine-Westphalia — comparable German municipal water utility operating drinking water treatment and distribution networks under regulated fees.
• Hessenwasser GmbH & Co. KG: Regional water company in Hessen (where Kassel is located), owned by municipal shareholders — closely comparable geography and similar multi-source water supply business model serving municipal customers.

Direct peers

• Stadtwerke Kassel (Städtische Werke AG): Kassel's municipal multi-utility, parent of NSG which operates KASSELWASSER's technical infrastructure — directly linked as the operating partner and former water supplier prior to 2012 recommunalization.
• Stadtentwässerung Frankfurt: Frankfurt's municipal wastewater utility operating under Eigenbetrieb model — highly comparable as a German city-owned entity managing canal networks, treatment plants, and flood protection for a metropolitan area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kasselwasser
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kasselwasser

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 KASSELWASSER