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Germany: drinking water compliance for shower fittings — a reading path
3 November 2026ComplyMatrix Research
Work through these seven steps to decide on your own whether a fitting in the water path falls under the TrinkwV, which material tests apply, and whether it may release anything into the water.
How to use this page
The seven steps below follow the order of the legal question. Each step links to the provision and to a shorter FAQ if you only need that one point.
The path
- Is the water drinking water? Yes if it is used for body care — TrinkwV § 2(1)(a)(cc).
- Where must the limits be met? At the outlet — § 10(1).
- Is the fitting part of the installation? Apparatus and fittings between extraction and transfer points are — § 2(4).
- Does the end-of-line exemption apply? Only for end-connected appliances behind a necessary safety device — § 1(2) No. 4; § 10(2).
- Which material duties follow? The four prohibitions of § 14, plus § 13(2) for operators.
- What is tested? KTW-BWGL for migration and odour/taste; W 270 or EN 16421 for microbial growth.
- May it release anything? Only treatment agents on the UBA list, for one of the four purposes — §§ 18–20.
What to verify
Steps 3 and 4 decide who carries the obligation; steps 5–7 decide whether the product can be sold at all. A material certificate answers step 6 and nothing else.
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
Informational content, not legal advice. The official text prevails. German provisions are quoted verbatim; English glosses are for orientation only.
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