On October 30, 2026, the law amending association and water law regulations came into force. The new regulation includes changes to the association laws of the special water associations in NRW and the State Water Act of NRW.
Since the last comprehensive amendment of these regulations in 2016, the water sector has faced numerous new legal and political requirements. These include, in particular, the new EU Water Framework Directive with the requirement of energy neutrality, as well as political requirements for a more resilient water sector, especially in the area of flood protection. The demands on a modern working environment are also becoming increasingly important. Overall, the water sector has become more complex, which is why the now effective amendments to the association laws have set the right framework.
agw has been actively involved in the amendment process. You can view the text of the law here:Â https://recht.nrw.de/gvnrw/2026-s748/