The groundwater has drinking water quality in large parts of Lower Austria. An average of 130 liters of water per person per day is consumed in Austria, of which around 34 percent is for showering, washing clothes and dishwashing, 25 percent for flushing the toilet, 14 percent outdoors for pools and plants, for example, and 27 percent flows through the taps in the bathroom, toilet and Kitchen.
Because the population is growing, the demand for water will increase in the coming years. In an unfavorable scenario of the study published in 2021 “Water Treasure Austria” Water resources are expected to decrease by 23 percent by 2050. The changes in natural water resources are due to the effects of climate change.
Save water by separating drinking and service water
In order to be prepared for the future, there is now a loud call for more efficient water use. The NEOS call for a drinking and process water plan for Lower Austria. They see a significant part of this in the separation of drinking water and treated service water: “Lower Austria must promote the use of service water in the future,” says NEOS municipal spokesman Helmut Hofer-Gruber. As an example, he cites the use of shower water to flush toilets.
Helmut Hofer-Gruber, NEOS municipal spokesman, wants to use industrial water more efficiently in Lower Austria.
Photo:
NEOS
According to the NEOS municipal spokesman, in order to make the separation possible, it is necessary to adapt existing laws, ordinances and relevant regulations for new buildings. In a broadcast, he addressed his appeal to the state government: the go-ahead for such a concept must be given as soon as possible so that it can take effect when drinking water becomes scarce.
Drinking water supply is secured
When asked by NÖN, the Lower Austrian state government refers to the drinking water safety plan presented at federal level in July 2023, which was drawn up in close cooperation with the federal states. Measures for the long-term security of the drinking water supply are currently being determined in Lower Austria. They want to analyze different water dispensers for their suitability and quality. As an example of possible measures for municipalities, the state of Lower Austria cites the supply from several water dispensers – such as wells or springs – or to establish a connection to neighboring water supply systems in the event of emergencies and bottlenecks. It is also recommended to collect rainwater on your own property and use it for garden irrigation, for example.
In Lower Austria there are currently sufficient groundwater reserves, as the state of Lower Austria found in the study “Water future Lower Austria 2050“ investigated. Martin Angelmaier, head of the water management department of the state of Lower Austria, also spoke in June of “sufficient groundwater reserves” even in 2050, although these are distributed differently from region to region. In order to create a balance between reserves and needs in the federal state, there needs to be a balance between the individual regions by means of “large supra-regional supply structures”, said Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf (ÖVP).
