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The commissioning of new evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators must be notified, as must modifications and decommissioning of systems and changes of operator.

Under certain conditions, evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators can emit water droplets (aerosols) containing legionella, which can lead to severe pneumonia or even death if inhaled by humans.

Legionella are naturally occurring water bacteria that enter technical water systems from the environment in low concentrations. Under favorable conditions, they can multiply rapidly in these systems. If aerosols can escape from these systems into the ambient air, there is a risk that legionella can be carried into the outside air and thus pose a health risk in the vicinity of these technical systems.

Against the backdrop of several outbreaks of legionellosis from technical water systems in Germany in recent years, the legislator has now passed a nationwide ordinance with which the application of the state of the art as well as directly applicable technical and organizational obligations in the construction and operation of evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators are to be regulated in a binding manner.
The aim is to prevent hazards and to mitigate the effects of improper operating conditions that nevertheless occur, thus minimizing the health risk to the population.

The operator of such a system must notify the competent authority no later than one month after initial filling with process water and immediately, at the latest within one month in the event of a change to the system or a system shutdown as well as a change of operator. Existing systems must be notified by 19.08.2018. The KaVKA-42.BV web application is used to create and receive notifications electronically. The obligation to notify results from Section 13 of the 42nd BImSchV. The notification must include information on the location of the facility, the operator and details of the laboratory test.

Operation of an installation according to 42. BImSchV

Fees are based on the Ordinance on Costs for Official Actions in the Enforcement of the Immission Control Acts and their Implementing Ordinances
(Immission Control Costs Ordinance - ImmSchKostVO M-V)

The notification is made via the "Cadastre for the registration of evaporative cooling systems 42. BImSchV - KaVKA".

To display a system, it is first necessary to register in the KaVKA-42.BV system. After successful registration, the master data of the workplace (the location of the system) and the system can be recorded and the notification can be sent to the responsible authority.

Under the following link you will find Instructions for application and registration.

The operator of a new system must notify the competent authority no later than one month after the first filling with process water.

Existing systems must be reported to the competent authority no later than one month after July 19, 2018.

Changes to the system, system decommissioning and changes of operator must be reported immediately, but within one month at the latest.

This administrative service does not constitute an administrative act. For this reason, there is no legal remedy.

• Notification requirements apply to new
  • evaporative cooling systems,
  • cooling towers and
  • wet separators
• as well as modifications and decommissioning of systems and changes of operator.

Does the plant require a permit under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG)?

• if "Yes", click on"Continue with the State Office for Agriculture and the Environment (StALU)"
• if "No", click on"Continue with the Lower Immission Control Authority"

The notification is made electronically via the "Cadastre for the registration of evaporative cooling systems 42nd BImSchV - KaVKA".

The data to be reported can be found in Annex 4 Part 2 of the 42nd BImSchV.