To ensure that future generations in Austria also have sufficient drinking water, the Ministry of Agriculture presented plans on Thursday to secure the drinking water supply. Climate change is causing groundwater reservoirs to sink, while at the same time the demand for water is increasing due to population growth. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) wants to put more money, research and awareness into the topic of drinking water.
“The drinking water supply is assured. We do not have a crisis or an emergency, but it was necessary to look to the future,” said Günter Liebel, secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture, at a press conference on Thursday. Totschnig admitted that from the current perspective there is enough water to 2030 and beyond and that there is no need for usage restrictions, but that climate change brings challenges.
Restrictions are planned in case of danger
If the drinking water supply is endangered in the long term, the ministry’s plan provides for restrictions. If necessary, the mayor can take measures so that swimming pools may not be filled. In the district of Wolfsberg in the Carinthian Lavanttal, one of the driest regions in Austria, this has been daily life for years, reports SPÖ county councilor Daniel Fellner, specialist for water management in Carinthia.
Companies that depend on the public water supply can also have their taps turned off or turned off. In an emergency, water comes before all other uses, Liebel said. The SPÖ has submitted proposals for constitutional anchoring in water law. The supply of drinking water to the population must be guaranteed by law, especially against the background of rising demand, SPÖ environmental spokeswoman and deputy club president Julia Herr demanded on Thursday.
Resources are decreasing, demand is increasing
In an unfavorable scenario in the study “Water Treasure Austria”, published in 2021, a decrease of 23 percent in water resources is expected by 2050. However, the annual water requirement will increase by five to seven percent in 2050. That is why more money should flow to drinking water infrastructure and research into efficient water use in the future, according to Totschnig.
Artificial intelligence to detect water loss
At the moment, about 80 million euros is available annually to finance the drinking water supply. There is a special budget of 100 million euros for this year and 2024. Totschnig wants to push through an increase in the financial framework in the current financial settlement negotiations. Three million euros must flow to research over the next three years. In the future, artificial intelligence could be used to identify where and if water is being lost in the pipes.
Together with the water suppliers and the federal states, information campaigns should raise the public’s awareness of the careful use of drinking water. In addition, the ministry wants to improve the database and forecasts for the groundwater situation. In general, the federal government wants to coordinate better with the federal states and water suppliers and regularly evaluate the drinking water supply concepts.
Industry and commerce need the most water
Most of the water (70 percent) is needed for industry and commerce, 24 percent is used by households, four percent is consumed by agriculture and two percent is used for selected services such as snow making or golf course irrigation. In total, the annual water requirement is 3.14 billion cubic meters. Each Austrian uses about 130 liters of water per day, which is the European average, says Liebel. The outlier is Italy with a consumption per capita of more than 250 liters due to outdated water pipes.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
