das  Abwasser

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔapvasɐ/

💧 What exactly is Abwasser?

Das Abwasser (neuter, singular) refers to water that has been contaminated by human use and is drained away. It typically includes wastewater or sewage from households (e.g., from toilets, showers, washing machines), industry, and commerce, as well as runoff rainwater from paved surfaces.

It's important to know that Abwasser in German is always neuter and uses the article das. There are no other articles or genders for this word.

🚨 Attention: The plural form die Abwässer is rather rare and mostly used in technical contexts to refer to different *types* of wastewater (e.g., industrial vs. domestic wastewater).

🧐 Grammar of 'das Abwasser' in Detail

Das Abwasser is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It is mostly used in the singular because it's often considered an uncountable mass.

Declension Singular

* The indefinite article is rarely used, as Abwasser is mostly treated as a specific, known substance or an uncountable concept.

Declension Plural

The plural die Abwässer is rare and technical. It declines as follows:

💡 Example Sentences

1. Das kommunale Abwasser muss in einer Kläranlage gereinigt werden.
   (The municipal wastewater must be treated in a sewage plant.)
2. Die Einleitung von unbehandeltem Abwasser in Flüsse ist verboten.
   (Discharging untreated wastewater into rivers is forbidden.)
3. Die Zusammensetzung des Abwassers variiert je nach Herkunft.
   (The composition of the wastewater varies depending on its origin.)
4. Mit dem Abwasser werden viele Schadstoffe transportiert.
   (Many pollutants are transported with the wastewater.)
5. Wir untersuchen verschiedene Arten von industriellen Abwässern (rare plural).
   (We are investigating different types of industrial wastewater.)

🗣️ How is Abwasser used?

Das Abwasser is a central term in environmental engineering, plumbing, urban planning, and water management.

• Context: One speaks of Abwasser in connection with the disposal and treatment of polluted water. Typical compound words are Abwasserkanal (sewer pipe), Abwasserreinigung (wastewater treatment), Abwassergebühr (sewage fee), Kläranlage (sewage treatment plant), häusliches Abwasser (domestic wastewater), industrielles Abwasser (industrial wastewater).
• Distinction: It is clearly distinguished from Trinkwasser (clean drinking water) or Brauchwasser (process water for industrial or agricultural purposes, not necessarily drinking quality). Schmutzwasser (dirty water) is often used synonymously, but sometimes it can refer more specifically to water containing faeces or heavily polluted water, whereas Abwasser is the broader term.
• Figurative Use: Figurative use is very rare.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of das Wasser (the water). Water is neutral, it just flows. Even when it's 'ab' (meaning away or dirty), it stays grammatically neutral: das Abwasser.

Meaning Mnemonic: Ab often means 'away' or 'down'. So, Abwasser is water that needs to go 'away' because it's used – it flows 'ab' (away/down) into the sewer.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words: Don't confuse with Grundwasser (groundwater) or Oberflächenwasser (surface water).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat der Klempner immer gute Laune?
Weil er Probleme einfach wegspült!

English: Why is the plumber always in a good mood?
Because he just flushes problems away!

📜 Poem about Abwasser

German:
Das Wasser, einst klar und rein,
dient dem Menschen, groß und klein.
Doch nach dem Nutzen, ach oh Graus,
wird's zu Abwasser, fließt hinaus.

Durch Rohre dunkel, tief im Grund,
tut es seine Reise kund.
Zur Kläranlage muss es geh'n,
um wieder sauber aufzuersteh'n.

English Translation:
The water, once clear and pure,
serves the people, big and small, for sure.
But after use, alas, oh dread,
it turns to wastewater, flows ahead.

Through pipes dark, deep in the ground,
its journey's story can be found.
To the treatment plant, it must proceed,
to rise again, clean indeed.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich war mal sauber, frisch und klar,
doch durch Gebrauch ist's nicht mehr wahr.
Ich fließe ab, durch Rohr und Schlund,
und werde gereinigt, Stund um Stund.

Was bin ich?

English:
I once was clean, fresh, and clear,
but through use, that's no longer here.
I flow away, through pipe and drain,
and get cleaned up, again and again.

What am I?

Solution: das Abwasser (wastewater/sewage)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

Das Abwasser is a compound noun, composed of:

• Ab-: Prefix meaning 'away', 'down', or 'as a result of' (e.g., abfließen - to flow away, Abfall - waste).
• Wasser: The base word, meaning 'water'.

So literally: "water that flows away / is used up".

Trivia:

Modern sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants (Kläranlagen) are one of the most significant public health achievements, drastically reducing the spread of diseases caused by contaminated water.