Nine Vorarlberg municipalities relied on backup water supplies

Nine municipalities in Vorarlberg could not meet summer water demand from their own sources in 2026 and relied on supplies from neighbouring municipalities or temporary pipes, ORF reported. Two large water network projects in the Walgau and Bregenzerwald regions are intended to strengthen supply in future.

The affected municipalities were Egg, Eichenberg, Möggers, Lochau, Ludesch, Nüziders, Übersaxen, Schwarzach and Zwischenwasser. Their supplies were maintained through existing connections between municipal water systems or short-term provisional pipelines.

Most people in Vorarlberg are already connected to shared water networks that provide a backup supply. But about four per cent of the population live in areas without such links and depend solely on local sources. The nine municipalities in that position are Blons, Bürserberg, Dalaas, Damüls, Fontanella, Satteins, Sibratsgfäll, Silbertal and Sonntag.

A water network connection links several municipal supply systems, allowing them to share water if a local source fails or runs dry during a prolonged dry spell.

Construction is under way on the Middle Walgau drinking water network, which will connect Bludesch, Düns, Dünserberg, Röns, Schlins and Schnifis. Work began in autumn 2025, and most of the pipelines have been laid. Remaining work includes closing a few gaps, completing the reservoir’s interior installations and commissioning four pumping stations. The network is expected to be fully operational by 2027.

In the Bregenzerwald, plans call for 17 kilometres of connecting pipelines. An oral water rights hearing was held on September 30, and construction is due to proceed in stages over the coming years. The Bregenzerwald water association includes Andelsbuch, Bezau, Egg, Hittisau, Krumbach, Langenegg, Lingenau, Riefensberg, Schwarzenberg and Sibratsgfäll. The project will benefit Egg, which faced particular pressure this summer, and Sibratsgfäll, which has so far lacked a network connection.