Parts of Austria could face water shortages in the future due to climate change. In an analysis, environmental protection NGO Greenpeace identified 471 communities across Austria “at high risk of acute water shortages by 2050.”
According to a press release, more than half of the affected communities are located in Lower Austria.
There is less groundwater available than needed
According to the analysis, the affected communities are located in regions where, in dry years, less groundwater is available than is needed for public water supply, industry and agriculture, which could lead to usage conflicts. More than half of these communities, a total of 288, are located in Lower Austria. A total of 82 communities are affected in Styria, 54 communities in Tyrol, 38 in Burgenland and eight in Upper Austria. The federal capital Vienna and the state capitals Linz, Innsbruck and St. Pölten are also located in the areas.
“A real water protection plan is needed”
The NGO called on Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) to “launch a real water protection plan before the National Council elections”. “Scorching heat, dried-up lakes and swimming ponds that turn into small mud pools. The past two summers have shown that drought is increasingly affecting our country. This is also affecting more and more fields where our food is withering due to a lack of water”, says Sebastian Theissing-Matei of Greenpeace Austria.
According to the NGO, there are still plenty of opportunities to stop the threat. For example, Greenpeace called for large water withdrawals by industry to be digitally reported in a central register, to promote efficient water use and to develop regional programs to reduce water consumption.
Source: Krone
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