In comparison with many other countries, Austria is always blessed with fresh drinking water from the line. About 75 percent therefore enjoy it regularly. The latest measurements, however, show an increasing burden of so -called eternity chemicals, also known as PFAS.
On the occasion of the World Water Day on 22 March, the Austrian opinion research institute Integral, in collaboration with the Global 2000 environmental protection organization, created an online survey on this subject. The result: tap water is the most popular drink- the places then occupy coffee (70 percent), tea (49 percent), mineral and soft drink water (46 percent) and lemonades and fruit juices (39 percent). Alcoholic beverages end up in their own information with 29 percent.
High appreciation, but future worries
Almost all 1,000 people surveyed stated online that they would estimate that Austria had high quality tap water (96 percent). Similarly, nine out of ten believes that the consumption of tap water protects the environment. At the same time, the respondents would be aware that this privilege was not self -evident: 55 percent fear that the quality of drinking water could deteriorate in the future.
An almost quarter (23 percent) is already ensuring that the tap water can be contaminated with chemicals. The subject on the per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAs), also known as eternal sliding chemicals, was also asked. 45 percent of the respondents have already heard of these connections, best known to those respondents with Matura.
91 percent support PFAS ban
The care is justified, as the integral study shows: the latest measurements show an increased PFAS tax on the domestic tap water. These chemical connections also known as PFAS are used in many daily products, as well as in cold technology and pesticides in agriculture. They cannot be dismantled by the environment or only incomplete, because organizations for environmental protection have long been warned. There is agreement between the population that PFAS connections should be prohibited: a total of 91 percent would like to know the so-called eternity chemicals, 54 percent even safe.
For the pesticide and chemical expert Helmut Burtscher damage from the global 2000, this result is very clear that Austrians would appreciate domestic tap water and want to know that it is protected. This would strengthen him and his organization in their dedication to the ban on dangerous eternity chemicals. “We will do everything we can to prevent further loads of our waters via PFAS. This is the only way to guarantee the quality of our drinking water in the long term,” emphasizes Burtscher damage.
TFA in all detected monsters analyzed
TFA (Trifluoracetate) is by far the most common PFAs in the area. Last summer, the Global 2000 environmental protection organization demonstrated the chemical TFA in all analyzed samples that has been examined so far and hardly any eternity. Unlike other PFAs, which are already being investigated in Austrian drinking water and received limit values from 2026, there is still no limit for TFA.
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) is currently investigating a proposal for an EU-wide “group ban” for more than 10,000 PFAS connections. According to the current status, PFAS pesticides would be excluded from this prohibition.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
