Water and Sewage Prices in Hesse Vary Significantly - Hesse's water bills surge as price gaps widen across the state
Water and wastewater costs in Hesse have steadily climbed over the past two decades. Between 2005 and 2025, drinking water fees rose by an average of 1.5% each year, while wastewater charges increased by 0.6%. The latest figures reveal wide price gaps across the state, with some residents paying far more than others for the same services.
A recent analysis shows that residents in Hesse paid an average of €2.59 per cubic meter of drinking water last year. However, prices varied sharply depending on location. Frankfurt am Main had the lowest rate at €3.80 per cubic meter, while the districts of Werra-Meißner and Hersfeld-Rotenburg charged the highest combined cost for drinking water and wastewater, reaching €7.09.
The range of charges was equally broad. Drinking water alone cost between €0.96 and €6.69 per cubic meter, while wastewater fees ranged from €1.30 to €6.99. Despite these differences, only 46 of the state's 421 municipalities based charges purely on actual water use.
Over the last 20 years, prices rose in 394 municipalities but fell in 26. The increases often linked to infrastructure upgrades, such as replacing old pipes or meeting EU water quality standards. Meanwhile, the few areas with lower costs likely benefited from improved technology, like better metering systems or more efficient treatment plants. No full comparison of these trends has been published so far.
The data highlights a clear upward trend in water and wastewater costs across most of Hesse. While some regions have managed to reduce expenses, the majority face higher bills due to ongoing infrastructure work. Without a centralised study, the exact reasons for price differences remain partly unclear.
