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Executive overview
Key findings
125.3 against 129.9 million m³: groundwater abstracted in 2025 against the usable yield assessed for HAMBURG WASSER, or 96.5% of it (calculated)
417,797 m³ against 460,000 m³: drinking water supplied on 1 July 2025 against maximum daily supply capacity, with a target of 500,000 m³ a day by 2030
EUR 2.05/m³ → EUR 2.13/m³: net drinking-water price in 2026 and the price approved by the Senate for 2027 (+3.9%)
EUR 315.1 million: budget for the VERA II sludge incineration expansion approved on 10 September 2026, EUR 71.2 million above the previously approved budget
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Buyer relevance
Who the report is for
Network and waterworks contractors
Locate the 270 km mains renewal to 2035 and the Stellingen, Curslack and Langenhorn works behind the 500,000 m³ a day capacity target.
Lenders and public-finance analysts
Compare HWW's 23.9% equity ratio with HSE's 61.3% and the EUR 300 million EIB loan behind the wastewater programme.
Treatment-plant and energy suppliers
Track VERA II, the 60 MW heat pump and phosphorus recovery at the treatment plant against their budgets and stages.
Consultancies new to the Hamburg market
Identify which city body owns, prices, licenses and supervises each part of the water system before a first approach.
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Decision scope
Questions answered
Where does Hamburg's drinking water come from?
All of it is groundwater: 77.6 million m³ was abstracted in Hamburg in 2025, 31.7 million m³ in Schleswig-Holstein and 16.0 million m³ in Niedersachsen.
How close is demand to supply capacity?
On 1 July 2025 HAMBURG WASSER supplied 417,797 m³ against maximum daily capacity of 460,000 m³, and it targets 500,000 m³ a day by 2030.
How much are water charges rising?
The net drinking-water price rises from EUR 2.05/m³ in 2026 to EUR 2.13/m³ in 2027, approved by the Senate on 20 October 2026.
How much is HAMBURG WASSER investing?
It plans EUR 1.15 billion for 2025–2029; the two companies invested EUR 227.8 million in 2025.
What has happened to the VERA II budget?
The supervisory board approved EUR 315.1 million for the expansion on 10 September 2026, EUR 71.2 million above the previous budget.
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Inside the report
Inside the complete report
Executive Snapshot
1. City Water Profile
2. Water Resources and Supply
3. Institutions and Utilities
4. Infrastructure and Major Projects
5. Tariffs and Finance
6. Climate and Resilience
7. Outlook and What to Watch
Source Register
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Public preview
What to watch next
2. Water Resources and Supply
The appeal court's decision on the Nordheide permit; the next reassessment of usable yield; whether peak days in 2026 exceed 2025.
4. Infrastructure and Major Projects
The VERA II commissioning date; the refurbishment estimate due in Q2 2027; heat-pump commissioning; contract awards for Langenhorn and Curslack.
5. Tariffs and Finance
The 2027 wastewater and stormwater fees; HSE's 2026 investment against plan and HWW's equity ratio (annual report, mid-2027); further EIB or green financing.
7. Outlook and What to Watch
The 2027 fee ordinance, the VERA II commissioning announcement, the German transposition bill for the wastewater directive and the Nordheide hearing date.
Assets and major projects, from Section 4, Infrastructure and Major Projects.
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Included
What you receive
The complete PDF report: 12 pages, 9 sections, 13 tables and a register of 26 sources.
This edition
November 2026, First edition.
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Evidence & method
Evidence and method
The profile draws on HAMBURG WASSER's 2025 annual report, environmental statement, Water Report and press releases, its price lists and fee schedules, and official population, land and economic statistics from Statistikamt Nord. It also uses Senate and BUKEA material on flood protection and climate adaptation, and the European Investment Bank's project record for the wastewater programme.
Sources
26 sources, listed in the report's source register. Evidence current to 4 November 2026. Principal data periods: HAMBURG WASSER financial year 2025 (calendar year) audited results and operating figures; hydrological year November 2024 to October 2025; official population at 31 December 2025; prices and fees in force for 2026 and approved for 2027; project and legal status re-checked on 4 November 2026. All currency is euros (EUR)..
Evidence boundaries
This report uses authoritative source material available at the stated research cutoff. It distinguishes published facts, calculated values and analytical interpretation. No independent modelling is performed. Forward-looking analysis reflects published plans, documented trends and stated uncertainties. It does not constitute legal, financial, investment or engineering advice.
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Lead analyst
Robert C. Brears
Founder, Our Future Water Intelligence
Robert C. Brears is a water-security specialist and author whose work examines utility governance, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and long-term water-system change for executive and policy audiences.
- Decision-focused utility intelligence
- Published water-policy author
- Evidence-grounded system analysis
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Buyer FAQs
Before you purchase
Who can use the report?
Licensed for internal use within one purchasing organization. The PDF and its contents may be shared with colleagues within that organization. External redistribution, resale and public publication are prohibited without permission.
How is the report delivered?
The PDF is available to download immediately after confirmed payment, through our secure delivery system.
Can my organization buy wider access?
Institutional purchasing: For invoice enquiries, multi-organization licensing or broader access requirements, contact Our Future Water Intelligence.
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Hamburg City Intelligence Profile
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Price
- USD 99
11
Report details
Publication details
- Publisher
- Our Future Water Intelligence
- Report family
- City Intelligence Profile
- Edition
- November 2026, First edition
- Format
- Length
- 12 pages
- Reference
- OFW_EXT_HAMBURG_CITY_INTELLIGENCE_PROFILE_81c760801471
- Evidence current to
- 4 November 2026
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