HAMBURG WASSER abstracted 125.3 million m³ of groundwater in 2025, and 47.7 million m³ of it, about 38%, came from wells outside Hamburg's borders. Schleswig-Holstein supplied 31.7 million m³ and Niedersachsen 16.0 million m³. The other 77.6 million m³ came from inside the city.
Close to the usable yield
The usable groundwater yield assessed for HAMBURG WASSER in its 2025 environmental statement is 129.9 million m³ a year. Abstraction in 2025 used 96.5% of it, leaving headroom of about 4.6 million m³. Abstraction was 123.1 million m³ in 2024, so it rose by 2.2 million m³ in a single year. The utility holds water rights of 142.9 million m³, but it states that what counts for public supply is the legally secured, usable yield.
Permits from two neighbouring states
Because more than a third of the water is pumped outside the city, Hamburg's supply depends on decisions by authorities in Schleswig-Holstein and Niedersachsen. HAMBURG WASSER applied for 18.4 million m³ a year at its Nordheide wellfields in Niedersachsen and was granted a revocable permit averaging 16.1 million m³. Its appeal, lodged on 1 December 2021, had no hearing or decision on 4 November 2026.
A growing city
Hamburg had 1,869,473 residents at the end of 2025, up 0.4% in a year. A projection published by BUKEA expects more than 2.4 million people in HAMBURG WASSER's supply area by 2050. The utility plans EUR 1.15 billion of investment over 2025–2029, including raising daily supply capacity from 460,000 m³ to 500,000 m³ by 2030 within its existing waterworks sites.
Who runs Hamburg's water, what charges are rising in 2027, which projects are under way and how the city is preparing for heavy rain and storm surge are covered in the profile. The full report, Hamburg City Intelligence Profile, is available for USD 99.