NACE 36.0 – Water Collection, Treatment and Supply | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 36.0 covers the collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water and process water via pipe-bound supply networks. This includes groundwater extraction, surface water treatment, waterworks, reservoirs, pumping stations and the pipe network up to the building connection.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 36.0 cover?

NACE 36.0 (Water collection, treatment and supply) classifies companies and public undertakings that collect drinking water, treat it and distribute it via pipe networks to households, businesses and industry — one of the oldest and most fundamental tasks of municipal service provision.

Group 36.0 within Section E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities) and Division 36 includes the following class:

Public contracting authorities under NACE 36.0 are municipal waterworks, water supply special-purpose associations, inter-municipal water supply companies and public utilities with a water supply division — all generally qualifying as utility contracting entities.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE 36.0

Water supply is one of the most sensitive areas of public infrastructure. Tendering includes both works contracts on supply networks and supply and service contracts for waterworks and operational management.

Typical Contract Types

• Pipe network new construction and refurbishment: Laying of new drinking water pipelines (PE, ductile iron, steel), renewal of legacy pipelines, trenchless pipe relining
• Water collection installations: Well drilling, well rehabilitation, spring tappings, drainage systems for groundwater collection
• Waterworks and treatment plants: New construction and expansion of filter plants, de-icing plants, deacidification plants, UV disinfection plants, ozonation plants
• Pumping stations and pressure-boosting installations: Replacement and new procurement of high-pressure pumps, frequency converters, motor controllers
• Water reservoirs and elevated reservoirs: Refurbishment of drinking water reservoirs (internal corrosion protection), new construction of pressure zone reservoirs
• Measurement and control technology: Smart meter procurement (water meters), remote reading systems (AMR/AMI), SCADA solutions for network management
• Operational management contracts: Tendering of external operational management for municipal water supply facilities

Thresholds and Procedure Types

Water supply companies are classified as utility contracting entities. In Germany, § 102 GWB in conjunction with § 100 GWB applies, in Austria § 165 BVergG 2018. The EU threshold for supply and service contracts: EUR 443,000; for works contracts: EUR 5,538,000 (as of 2024/2025). The open procedure is standard; where particular innovation is required, the competitive dialogue is used.

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 36.0

CPV codes are the binding classification system for public tenders in Europe and enable targeted searches for water supply tenders on TED and national platforms.

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is NACE 36.0 relevant for in public procurement?

Public Contracting Authorities

In Germany, drinking water supply is generally the responsibility of the municipalities as a mandatory task of service provision. They perform this task through municipal own-account enterprises, public utilities, special-purpose associations or mixed-economy companies. All typically qualify as utility contracting entities under SektVO. In Austria, municipalities and water associations are the central providers; for large cross-regional supply, federal states are responsible.

Companies and Bidders

Companies participating in water supply tenders must meet different requirements depending on the type of service:

• Authorisation: Trade authorisation (main construction trade, pipeline construction, plant construction, electrical engineering)
• Technical capability: Reference projects in drinking water pipeline construction or plant construction (pipe diameter, contract value, complexity)
• Certifications: DVGW certification (Germany) for work on drinking water installations is frequently a minimum requirement; ISO 9001, ISO 14001
• Quality requirements: Evidence of compliance with DIN EN 805 (Water supply system requirements) and the Drinking Water Ordinance (TrinkwV)

NACE 36.0 in context: Section E and Division 36

NACE 36.0 is part of Section E (Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities) — the section of public infrastructure supply in the environmental area.

• NACE E – Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities: Parent section
• NACE 37.0 – Sewerage: Wastewater collection, wastewater treatment plants
• NACE 38.1 – Waste collection: Refuse collection, recycling centres
• NACE 39.0 – Remediation activities and other waste management services: Soil remediation, legacy contamination clearance

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 36.0 and Public Tenders

Do small municipalities have to tender their water supply contracts EU-wide?
Only where contract values exceed the EU thresholds. Below the thresholds, national rules apply (UVgO, VOB/A, regional procurement law). For utility contracting entities, special thresholds apply.

What is a DVGW certification, and why is it relevant for water tenders?
The DVGW Code of Practice (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water) defines technical requirements for gas and water installations in Germany. Many contracting authorities require DVGW registration or evidence of equivalent qualifications as a minimum condition.

How do I find current water supply tenders?
Search on TED for CPV 65100000 (Water distribution) or 45231300 (Construction work for water pipelines). National tenders can be found on municipal procurement portals and platforms such as DTVP, Vergabe24 or the Austrian Federal Procurement Portal.

Can water supply tasks be awarded to private operators?
Yes, through operational management contracts or public-private partnership models. The tender itself is subject to procurement law; full privatisation of drinking water supply is politically and legally heavily restricted in Germany and Austria.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.