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This book describes the development of water institutions in the former East Germany, covering the period up to 1980 and including the major changes affecting water supply and waste treatment. It contains numerous articles on water management written by East German policy makers in the water sector, as well as the most relevant laws and regulations adopted.

During the 40 years of the former German Democratic Republic, the water industry and management of water resources took a very different course from its previous development or from the one pursued in the Länder of West Germany. It was transformed from a largely decentralised municipal structure, in which the various functions of water management were not integrated, to a highly centralised and integrated one.

In this book, the stages of this transformation are sketched, beginning with the creation of a separate planning section for the water industry in 1951. It also discusses the creation of two types of economic units in 1952, one under central guidance responsible for water supply facilities or waste water treatment plants, the other taking over the water supply and sewerage from the previously responsible municipal bodies.

The next steps in the process of centralisation were the creation of river basin agencies in 1958 and water utilities for water supply and sewerage in 1964. The territory of the latter eventually followed the boundaries of the 15 districts.