Graz freezes Stiftingtal water line expansion

Graz has frozen the third stage of a water line expansion for a residential settlement in Stiftingtal, leaving about 30 homes without a connection to the public network. The city’s budget constraints have put the project in doubt, ORF Steiermark reported.

The homes in Stiftingtal and on Rohrbachhöhe have relied on wells for decades, but drought has limited their supply. Water is now being delivered regularly to the settlement as a temporary measure.

The first two stages of the expansion are complete or nearing completion. The third stage would connect 18 properties and is expected to cost about two million euros. It was not included in Holding Graz’s 2027 business plan because of the city’s strained finances.

Graz district head Josef Schuster said residents had already signed contracts when they were told the project would not receive funding. The city finance councillor’s office said the process had taken longer than expected, while Holding Graz said planning began about a year ago, after at least half of the affected residents backed the project. The utility said residents had been told construction could not begin before 2028.

Residents are expected to pay about 20,000 euros per household for connection and excavation work, Schuster said. The temporary water deliveries are likely to continue for at least two more years.