Drinking water testing laboratories – applying for accreditation
Drinking water analyses required under the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV), including sampling, may only be carried out by testing laboratories authorised for this purpose. With regard to the requirements for authorisation, the Drinking Water Ordinance of 23 June 2023 refers to the Drinking Water Ordinance in force until that date (old version of the TrinkwV, Section 15(4)).
Responsible authority
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs is responsible for the accreditation of
- laboratories based in Baden-Württemberg or
- laboratories based in another EU Member State that wish to operate in Baden-Württemberg and are not yet authorised as drinking water testing laboratories in any other federal state.
In the case of companies with multiple sites, it is not the company’s registered office that is decisive, but the location of the laboratory.
Details
Prerequisite
- valid accreditation as a testing laboratory with the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) to carry out the necessary test procedures for the analysis of drinking water, including sampling
- compliance with the requirements set out in Section 15(1) to (2a) of the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV), old version
- Evidence of successful participation in external quality assurance programmes at least once a year
Procedure
The laboratory must apply for authorisation informally, in writing or by email, to the Ministry of Rural Affairs of Baden-Württemberg.
Please enclose the required documents with the application.
The Ministry will review the documents and decide on the accreditation. The laboratory will receive a decision. If accreditation is granted, the laboratory will be included in the list of accredited testing laboratories published on the Ministry’s website, with its address, scope of testing and a link to the annex to the accreditation certificate on the accreditation body’s website.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
- Proof of valid accreditation as a testing laboratory for the analysis of drinking water, including sampling,
- Confirmation of successful participation in interlaboratory tests:
for microbiological parameters, including Legionella, from the Lower Saxony State Health Office, Aurich branch,
; for chemical parameters from AQS Baden-Württemberg or Hamburg or a cooperation partner, or from the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia,
. In each case, the evidence must not be more than one year old. - When carrying out microbiological tests, confirmation of notification to the locally competent regional council in accordance with Section 20 of the Federal Epidemics Act or Section 49 of the Infection Protection Act and/or authorisation from the competent regional council in accordance with Section 19 of the Federal Epidemic Act or Section 44 of the Infection Protection Act.
Costs
Fees ranging from EUR 350.00 to EUR 500.00 apply in accordance with the Regulation of the Ministry of Rural Affairs on the setting of fee rates for public services provided by state authorities within its remit (MLR Fees Regulation – GebVO-MLR) of 11 December 2018.
Processing time
from two to four weeks
Miscellaneous
Once accreditation has been granted, the drinking water testing laboratory must notify the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs of any changes relating to its accreditation, without being asked to do so and without delay, in writing or by email.
Furthermore, the drinking water testing laboratory must, by 31 December of each year, submit to the Ministry, again without being asked, confirmation that it has successfully completed quality assurance at least once a year through participation in interlaboratory tests.
For microbiological parameters, including Legionella, the Ministry expects participation in the interlaboratory tests organised by the Lower Saxony State Health Office, Aurich branch, or its partners; for chemical parameters, participation is expected in those organised by AQS Baden-Württemberg or Hamburg, or a cooperation partner, or by the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Legal basis
Trinkwasserverordnung (TrinkwV):
- §40 Zugelassene Untersuchungsstellen
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Ministerium Ländlicher Raum Baden-Württemberg, 29.05.2026