Water shortages strain more than a third of Alpine huts

Water shortages affected more than a third of mountain huts this summer, according to a preliminary assessment by the German Alpine Club (DAV), reported by BR. At the Brunnenkopfhütte, a mountain hut above the Graswang Valley, the spring ran dry for weeks and the shortage temporarily threatened operations.

Staff had water transported up the mountain by tractor several times a week in a tank holding about 1,000 litres. The hut reduced its menu and sometimes used paper tableware. Hut manager Christian Deser said the kitchen could not operate without water.

The spring at Brunnenkopf had supplied less water for years before drying up completely this summer. Lars Evers, hut officer for the DAV’s Bergland Munich section, said this had never happened before, even during previous dry summers.

The DAV’s preliminary figures draw on reports from about 300 huts. Staff at around 35 to 40 per cent reported water shortages. Problems were more severe in the western Alps and eased towards the east; the type of rock beneath a hut also affects how much rainwater can be stored.

Huts are trying to cut consumption and store more water. The Brunnenkopfhütte has had dry toilets and water-saving taps for about 20 years. The DAV says flush toilets can account for around 60 per cent of a hut’s water use. It is also considering further funding to help huts install larger storage tanks and water-saving equipment.

The DAV’s Bergland Munich section is considering a larger reservoir for the Brunnenkopfhütte, but the project would require planning, permits and substantial investment. Water transport alone added about 6,000 euros in costs this summer. Supplies have since recovered enough for normal operations, while the DAV identifies increasing water shortages as one of the effects of climate change in the Alps.