Four Salzburg groundwater stations hit record lows

Groundwater levels at three-quarters of monitoring stations in Salzburg are unusually low after this summer’s drought, with four stations recording their lowest levels on record for mid-October, ORF reported, citing a Greenpeace analysis of the data.

The record lows were measured at stations in Salzburg-Morzg, Saalfelden-Lichtenberg, Elsbethen and Enns-Altenmarkt. The Hydrographic Service continuously measures groundwater levels across the state.

Across Austria, around half of all monitoring stations have levels lower than ever recorded for mid-October. Thirty-six of 227 stations have reached their lowest levels since measurements began. Styria, Upper Austria and Lower Austria are the most affected.

Greenpeace called for the federal government to speed up the introduction of a water extraction register, which would require users such as industrial businesses to report how much water they draw.