Lower Austria plans 300 water projects after record drought

Drinking water supplies functioned well in more than 90 percent of Lower Austrian municipalities during the prolonged drought, according to Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf. ORF reported that the state is nevertheless planning 300 new water infrastructure projects over the next two years.

Some local shortages occurred in scattered settlements and alpine areas, Pernkopf said after a meeting on the future of water management. The state plans to expand regional networks and connections between municipalities.

The past 12 months were the driest in Lower Austria since records began 176 years ago. Annual precipitation was 30 to 60 percent below average, depending on the region. Rainfall was significantly below the long-term average in every month except February, said Martin Angelmaier, head of the water division in the Lower Austrian state government.

Groundwater levels were low or very low at 91 percent of monitoring stations, while water levels in surface waters were in the very low range at 88 percent of stations. The Danube gauge at Kienstock in the Wachau reached a historic low of 91 centimetres at the beginning of the week. Low water levels have restricted freight and passenger shipping for some time. The drought has also caused substantial crop losses in parts of the agricultural sector, Pernkopf said.

About 200 projects are currently under construction, including new wells, elevated tanks and pipelines. A further 300 projects are scheduled for implementation over the next two years. Plans include expanding the Waldviertel transport pipeline and building a new connection between the Weinviertel and Industrieviertel regions.

Pernkopf said the planned pipeline from the Danube to Burgenland would also go ahead. A section in southern Lower Austria would be used to replenish groundwater, support irrigation and secure drinking water supplies, he said. The project is covered by an agreement between Lower Austria, Burgenland and the Agriculture Ministry.

Existing investments in water infrastructure helped the state manage the difficult summer conditions, Angelmaier said. Thirty-one drinking water and rainwater management plans have been completed in municipalities, while 73 are in preparation.

Ten water restoration projects are currently under way. The state is also promoting the removal of sealed surfaces and conversions based on the sponge city principle. Several municipalities have called on residents to save water in recent months.

Ninety-two percent of Lower Austria’s population receives water through public systems, while the remainder relies on private wells. Angelmaier said water reserves should continue to be sufficient across the state, but urged residents to use water carefully and responsibly.