NACE 36 – Water Collection, Treatment and Supply | Public Tenders
NACE 36 Water supply: public contracts for water collection, treatment and distribution. CPV codes, contracting authorities and tenders.
Definition: NACE 36 covers the collection, treatment and distribution of water for households, industry and public institutions. Water supply is part of critical infrastructure and is generally organised at municipal level — with a correspondingly high share of public tenders.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 36 cover?
NACE 36 (Water collection, treatment and supply) covers all economic activities around the provision of drinking water — from collection through treatment to distribution to end consumers.
| Group | Title | Typical Services |
|---|---|---|
| 36.0 | Water collection, treatment and supply | Water collection (wells, springs), water treatment (filtration, disinfection), operation of waterworks, distribution via pipe network, pressure-boosting installations |
Public Tenders – Water Supply
Water supply is a classical field of municipal service provision. Public contracts arise along the entire value chain:
- Construction and refurbishment of water supply facilities (waterworks, pumping stations, elevated reservoirs)
- Pipe network refurbishment and expansion (drinking water pipelines, building connections)
- Supply of fittings, pipes and fittings (framework agreements for network operation)
- Measurement and control technology (smart metering, SCADA, telecontrol systems)
- Planning and engineering services for water supply projects
- Water analyses and laboratory services (drinking water monitoring)
Relevant CPV Codes
| CPV Code | Title | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 65100000 | Water distribution and related services | Water supply and treatment |
| 45231300 | Construction work for water and sewage pipelines | Pipe network construction |
| 45232150 | Works related to water-distribution pipelines | Water supply installations |
| 42122000 | Pumps for liquids | Pump technology |
| 38420000 | Instruments for measuring flow, level and pressure of liquids and gases | Measurement technology |
| 71322000 | Engineering design services for the construction of civil engineering works | Engineering services |
Contracting Authorities
- Municipal water supply companies (public utilities, water associations)
- Municipalities and municipal associations as providers of water supply
- Water associations and special-purpose associations (e.g. Wasserverband Eifel-Rur, Wiener Wasser)
- Federal states and federal authorities for cross-regional water infrastructure projects
FAQ
Is water supply subject to utilities procurement law? Yes. Contracting authorities that provide drinking water and operate supply networks are utility contracting entities within the meaning of the EU Utilities Directive (2014/25/EU). In Germany the SektVO applies, in Austria the BVergGVS 2018.
Which standards are relevant for tenders in the water area? Central are ÖNORM B 2538 (Water supply systems), DIN EN 805 (Water supply), the DVGW Code of Practice and the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV). These are frequently referenced as technical requirements in tenders.
- NACE E – Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities: Parent section
- NACE 37 – Sewerage: Related area
- NACE 38 – Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities: Other municipal supply services
Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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