Water usage
Water is used in various areas of DB Group, such as operations, sanitation, construction, maintenance and production. Group companies obtain the majority of their water requirements from the public supply network, with smaller quantities coming from groundwater and rainwater.
| Water used from public supply / million m³ | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB Group | 5.47 | 6.74 | 6.25 |
Data collection is financially based, among other elements.
DB Group’s water usage in Germany is determined on the basis of the water costs incurred in relation to the average water price. As the previously used data source for the development of water prices was discontinued, the average water costs from the water price comparison of the German Association of Energy Customers (Energie-Abnehmer e. V.; VEA) will be used as a reference starting from 2025. The average net water price plus 7 % value added tax reported there amounted to € 2.33/m³ in 2025, which is 16.7 % higher than the value assumed for the previous year. As a result, the mathematically estimated water use of DB Group in Germany in 2025 was reduced by 18.8 %.