Waters Protection Ordinance (WPO) (WPO)

HomeHome01 General Provisions01 General Provisions02 Disposal Of Wastewater02 Disposal Of Wastewater03 Disposal Of Sludge03 Disposal Of Sludge04 Requirements For Animal Husbandry Farms04 Requirements For Animal Husbandry Farms05 Protection For Waters In Terms Of Area Planning05 Protection For Waters In Terms Of Area Planning06 Maintaining Appropriate Rates Of Residual Water06 Maintaining Appropriate Rates Of Residual Water07 Prevention And Remediation Of Other Harmful07 Prevention And Remediation Of Other Harmful08 Enforcement08 Enforcement09 Federal Wastewater Charge09 Federal Wastewater Charge10 Payment Of Federal Contributions10 Payment Of Federal Contributions11 Commencement11 Commencement12 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 1812 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 1813 Transitional Provisions To The Amendment Of 413 Transitional Provisions To The Amendment Of 414 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 2514 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 2515 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 415 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 416 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 1616 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 1617 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 2917 Transitional Provision To The Amendment Of 29

English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.

Art. 1 Purpose and principle

1 This Ordinance shall facilitate the protection of surface and underground waters from harmful effects and enable their sustainable use. 2 For this purpose, all measures taken under this Ordinance must take account of the ecological goals for waters (Annex 1).

Art. 2 Scope

1 This Ordinance regulates: a. the ecological goals for waters; b. the requirements on water quality; c. the disposal of wastewater; d. the disposal of sewage sludge; e. the requirements for animal husbandry farms; f. the protection of waters in terms of area planning; g. the maintenance of appropriate residual flow; h. the prevention and remediation of other harmful effects on waters; i. the payment of federal contributions. 2 The Ordinance applies to radioactive substances, insofar as such substances have biological effects resulting from their chemical characteristics. Insofar as these substances have biological effects resulting from radiation, the legislation on radiation protection and nuclear energy applies.

Para. 1 let. h — Amended by No I of the O of 4 May 2011, in force since 1 June 2011 (AS 2011 1955).

Official text on Fedlex — consolidation of 1 December 2025

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