blue austria water

8/13/2019 Blue Austria Water

1/20Alpine water resources Modern waste water management Cool: Generation Blue

BLUE AUSTRIA

MORE THAN JUST BLUE DANUBEComprehensive protection of Austrias water resources

CLEAN POWERWater power dominates Austrias electricity production

WATER FOR THE WORLDSuccessful aid projects in developing countries


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PROTECTING WATER,PROTECTING THE FUTUREWe take it for granted: Fresh, clean and in plentiful supply. It may come as a surprise that the

efficient usage and protection of water ranks so highly on the political agenda and national

consciousness of a country as mountainous and by no means suffering from a shortage of water

as Austria.

Hardly any other country has undertaken such substantial efforts to protect its national water

resources water is a key factor in maintaining a high quality of living. Despite Austrias highdegree of industrialisation, the water found in virtually all Austrian rivers, creeks and lakes meets

the highest quality standards.

The environment is not the only beneficiary; the Austrian people benefit as well. Tap water is

safe to drink throughout the whole country, and experienced travellers attest to its unmatched

quality worldwide. The quality of the water stems from both the countrys natural alpine legacy and

comprehensive protection measures which reduce the pollutants in Austrian waters to an

absolute minimum.

Furthermore, water has traditionally been Austrias most important energy resource. Hydropower

plants on the Danube and alpine rivers generate the lions share of Austrias electricity supply,ranking it amongst the countries with the highest percentage of renewable energy. Hydropower

consequently plays an important role in Austrias efforts to meet its ambitious targets to minimise

CO2emissions.

Austria does not however focus solely on its own national water resources, but also champions

the issue on the international stage. Austria plays a highly active role in furthering international

cooperation on the protection of the Danube as well as in numerous other water-related development

projects across the globe. We are proud of our important contributions to a common global goal:

protecting our water resources for future generations. We strongly believe that we are

hereby laying the foundations necessary to safeguard the health and quality of life of our children.

Federal Minister for

European and International

Affairs Ursula Plassnik

Federal Minister of

Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water

Management Josef Prll

BMFLUW/RitaNewman

Hopi-Media

Federal Minister of

Economics and Labour

Martin Bartenstein

BMWA

EDITORIAL


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WATER-RICH AUSTRIA

Water is a distinguishing feature of

the landscape in this alpine country

and home of the Blue Danube.

Austrians share a particularly

strong bond with their water.

WATER PROTECTION

ACCORDING TO PLAN

The quality of Austrias waters has

ranked amongst the best in the world

for decades

WORKING FOR

CLEAN WATER

Water awareness amongst Austrians

is high and new measures to keep

waters clean are continually being

implemented.

AUSTRIAS ELECTRICITY

TRULY FLOWS

Over 4,000 hydroelectric power plants

cover 70 percent of Austrias

electricity consumption. This figure

ranks Austria as second in Europe.

FLOOD PROTECTION IS A

WORK IN PROGRESS

Soft measures of flood prevention

are becoming increasingly important

alongside classical flood defences

such as dams and dykes.

AUSTRIAN EXPERTISE

Water is becoming big business.

Numerous Austrian businesses are

successful on the international stage

in the fields of hydropower, water

supplies and sewage treatment.

GENERATION BLUE

Water comes out of the tap or

does it? Generation Blue

provides adolescents with answers

to questions such as this.

CLEAN WATER FOR

EVERYONE

Water plays a key role in Austrian

Development Cooperation. Austrian

programmes and projects are

designed to improve the quality of

drinking water and keep water clean.

PERFECT DESIGN

The Europe drinking glass by

Austrian designer Miki Martinek is

awarded the Adolf Loos prize.

WATER TOURISM

Visitors to Austria expect clean water

and untouched landscapes, and they

find both around almost every corner.

Publishers:Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Federal Ministry for European and

International Affairs/Austrian Development Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour

Coordination: Mag. Susanne Brandstetter; Editors:Mag. Susanne Brandstetter, MR DDr. Herwig Drr, Mag. Heidi Frank;Art director:Max Niederschick;Proof-reader: Maureen Stewart; Owner:KGV Marketing Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H., Europaring F 13 301,A-2345 Brunn/Gebirge; Circulation: 25,000; Cover: dreamstime.com, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern / Mussnig, BMFLUW / Rita Newman

Blue Austria is a special issue of Location Austria

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CONTENTS


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TirolWerbung|JohannSchneider


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WATER-RICH AUSTRIAHardly any other country in Europe is as rich in water resources as Austria.

Drinking water is drawn directly from mountain springs, rivers serve as transitroutes, energy sources and leisure areas, yet are clean enough to drink from.Keeping these high standards is a task that Austrians have taken to heart.

EVERY AUSTRIAN has more than enough to

drink, and the water is of the highest quality.

There is room for every ship-owner on the transit

routes, and holidaymakers can choose from over 40

swimming lakes with bathing water of the highest

quality. Nonetheless, Austria is continually on the

lookout for new means of improving its water man-

agement and water policies. To this end, the countryhas committed itself to tackling the issue of long-

term water management even more intensively.

A broad field, given that water management and

policies are closely tied to environmental, economic

and energy issues. It is these three areas that will

shape the coming years; three areas that are includ-

ed in the 2007 government programme.

Austria needs to safeguard the quality of its

water. This is not purely a means of treating

wastewater, but also a matter of handling water

resources in an ecologically sound manner. Thisinvolves imparting the importance of water as the

elixir of life on the general population and oblig-

ing companies to engage in measures to protect

the environment.

Not only is protecting water a high priority, protec-

ting people from water is also of paramount impor-

tance. The floods of 2002, 2005 and 2006 led to an

immediate rethink of policy. Wherever possible, rivers

are being given back the pace so they dont need to

flood, and damage to property is limited as a result.

Renewable energy sources will complement fossil

fuels even stronger in the future, and hydroelectric

power has a key role to play in this respect.

All these points are included alongside the imple-

mentation of the EU Water Framework Directive, which

obliges the EU member states to consider the protec-

tion of lakes and rivers when making use of them. In

Austrias case, this means continuing to reduce or keep

low the levels of pollutants in lakes, rivers and ground-

water and to allow lakes and rivers to flow as naturally

as possible, without taking hydroelectric power out of

the equation or neglecting flood protection.

Working on such long-term water management strate-

gies is a never-ending task, and does not stop at your

own front door. Austrias businesses and researchers

are also working abroad to develop new technologies

and ways of using hydropower, guaranteeing clean

water supplies and treating sewage. One of the water

industrys goals is to share this knowledge with en-

terprises and governments by means of development

projects and business partnerships, sharing some of

water-rich Austrias wealth with the rest of the world.

5

Clean water adorns the

breathtaking Austrian

landscape: waterfall in Tyrol

(left page) and a mountain lake

on the Carinthian side of the

National Park Hohe Tauern.

NationalparkHoheTauern/Mussnig


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WORKING FOR CLEAN WATERAustria is a country rich in water resources as such, water protection is a high

priority. The state invests large sums in this area and with noticeable results: waterawareness amongst Austrians is high, and new measures for the protection of thewater resources are continually being implemented.

WHEN ASKED what Austrians are particu-

larly proud of about their country, the answer

clean water ranks second behind the beautiful

landscape. Clean water is increasingly being taken

for granted by Austrians, after all, 89 percent of

rivers today are quality class I and II and drinking

water is drawn entirely from ground and spring

water. Reaching this level of quality and safeguarding

it for the future is hard work, says Austrian Minister

of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and WaterManagement Josef Prll. We invest in water supply

and wastewater management, have expanded

sewage treatment plants and between 1993 and 2006

provided support for a total of 22,000 projects aimed

at guaranteeing water quality and supply.

Particular advances have been made in two areas that

were previously amongst the most pressing concerns,

namely agriculture and the industry. A large segment

of rural family enterprises that shape the Austrian

agricultural sector participate in various environmental

protection programmes and the use of fertilisers that

pollute water supplies has been drastically reduced.

These improvements have less to do with strict regu-

lations and are more a result of the increase in envi-

ronmental awareness amongst farmers, says Min-ister Prll. Improvements in the industrial sector were

largely due to strict regulations concerning waste water

emissions and hence high investments in state of the

art waste water technology by the companies and the

state. Today the water quality in Austrian rivers is fairly

Water has been treated

biologically in Austria for

around 40 years. The number

of treatment plants has

continued to grow and the

technology employed is

continually monitored and

improved.

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

BMFLUW/RitaNewman


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good even downstream of production plants of water-

intensive industries, e.g. the paper and pulp industry.

40 YEARS OF BIOLOGICAL SEWAGE TREATMENT

There have also been many changes in the sewage

treatment plants themselves. The number of plants has

continually been increased, and, as a rule, sewage from

rural areas is treated in the same manner as sewage

from the cities. Just as important is the continual ad-

vancement in technology, through which the efficiency

of the treatment plants has been steadily improved.

These measures are the primary factor that has ensured

that Austria is one of few European countries which has

been officially certified as having comprehensivelyimplemented the strict European regulations.

Waste water has been treated biologically in Austria

for around 40 years, nutrient (nitrogen and phospho-

rus) elimination is todays minimum treatment stand-

ard in Austria. In 1968, three percent of households

were connected to sewage treatment plants, today

that figure is almost 90 percent and still increasing.

This improvement is also largely due to the financial

support provided by the federal government which

has financed almost 16,000 wastewater managementprojects over the past 15 years. This has ensured that

less prosperous municipalities, which would have

otherwise been unable to finance water protection

measures on their own, have had the opportunity

to expand their sewage networks rapidly, construct

treatment plants and modernise existing facilities.

CLEAN WATER FOR THE FUTURE

The investments have paid off, and still continue to

do so, says Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water Management Josef Prll. By

treating community and industrial wastewater, the

quality of Austrian streams and rivers has massively

improved. Today, the quality of most Austrian water-

ways is either good or very good, and most are free of

chemical pollutants. In order to maintain and improve

the current situation, Austria is working intensively

on a National Water Management Plan (NWMP). The

focus for 2008 and beyond is to look past the aspect

of water quality and to embrace and further develop

bodies of water as natural habitats.

Thanks to comprehensive

investments in multi-stagesewage treatment plants,

Austrias sewage treatment

needs are covered.

With 100 percent of Austrian drinking water

coming from ground- and spring water, the

quality of drinking water is among the very best

in the world. This is commensurately appreci-

ated: 91 percent of Austrians rate their drink-

ing water as either very good or good.

The next goal is ensuring that all ground

water is of drinking quality. Increased nitrate

concentrations in certain regions as a result of

intensive agricultural activities poses a chal-

lenge in this respect. However, new regulations

governing the use of fertilisers and compre-hensive training programmes for farmers have

already generated strong improvements.

DRINKING WATER FROM THE GROUND

7

BMFLUW/RitaNewman

BMFLUW/RitaNewman

GasteinertalTourismusGmbH


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FLOOD CONTROLIS A WORK IN PROGRESS

When thinking of Austria, most people think of hills, mountains and picturesqueriver valleys, a combination which poses great challenges to flood experts:every square metre of the valley floor is used intensively, and many people

live directly next to water. Thanks to a national strategy, the impactof floods has largely been contained.

FOR DECADES,no one had believed it possible,

but in the summer of 2002, large areas along the

Danube and its tributaries were under water, areas

which had not been flooded for decades. Similar

catastrophes followed in 2005 and 2006.

PROVIDING RIVERS MORE SPACE

These floods revealed the limits of conventional

flood control. They also provided the impetus for a

radical rethinking of Austrian flood control policies.

Over the past few years, Austria has undergone a

paradigm shift in its approach to flood control, says

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and

Water Management Josef Prll. For decades, rivers

were regulated. Today we are doing our utmost

wherever possible to give them back the space

that they need.

Moreover, flood control is no longer an issue solely

for engineers. Nowadays, ecologists also play a key

role in addition to public authorities, farmers, politi-

cians and project developers. They pursue a two-tier

strategy; non-structural and structural flood control.

Non-structural flood control ensures that rivers are

given the space they need when floods occur. Houses

and farmland are moved away from the river, so that

any flooding causes a minimum of damage. Only

if these preventive measures are insufficient does

structural flood control come into play. This includes

the construction of dams and barriers, detention

basins and water-resistant houses.

Plans have been drawn up that will be implemented

over the coming years, with further flood control

measures being put into place in numerous regions

across Austria. These steps are being undertaken in

light of the new EU Floods Directive, which stipulates

that flood risk and flood hazard maps as well as cri-

sis plans need to be available for the whole country.

Floods of the century such as that which occurred

in 2002 are likely to happen again in future. The

measures we have put in place and will put in place

over the coming years can ensure that there is truly

no reason to remember them for decades afterward.

Conventional flood protection

by means of dams and dykes

is often complemented by

ecological measures (flood

basins etc.) and more. Rivers

and streams are being given

back their natural appearance

and the risk of flooding is

reduced as a result.

The as of yet largest non-structural (passive) flood con-

trol measures have been initiated by Austria in the catchment

basin of the Lafnitz river on the border between the provinces

of Burgenland and Styria. Today former farmland near the river

is used as pastures and grassland; flooding no longer causes

significant damage here. This has rendered river regulation(s)completely unnecessary, and the flood risk for those living

downstream has also been reduced.

An unusual project has been realised in Mittersill in the pro-

vince of Salzburg. An 800-metre long and five-metre high dam

has been constructed across the Salzach river. The dam itself is

nothing unusual, but the idea behind it is that holders of (agricul-

tural) land in the area of the detention basin that will be flooded

more frequently in future will be compensated from the municipalfund. Inhabitants in the dry areas below the dam will in turn help

finance the fund. The Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water Management and Oberpinzgau water

board will invest a total of 12.5 million euros in the project.

NON-STRUCTURAL FLOOD PROTECTIONON THE LAFNITZ RIVER

MUNICIPAL FUND TO COMPENSATEFLOOD VICTIMS

FLOOD CONTROL

BMFLUW

LandTirol

BMFLUW

/RitaNewman

BMFLUW

/RitaNewman


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WATER comes out of pipes doesnt it? Finding

answers to questions like this come naturally to

teenagers participating in the Generation Blue project.

For most teenagers in Austria, water has one main

characteristic: it is simply there. Generation Blue,

a project aimed at 13 to 19 year olds, reveals the

secrets behind what many of them take for granted.

And with great success: over 400,000 teenagers

have been reached by the project. They have

investigated rivers, mixed water cocktails,

competed in interschool competitionsand learned that in many countries

water is not as taken for granted or as

readily available as it is in Austria. Only

0.014 percent of the Earths water is fresh water

that can be directly harnessed by humans.

Generation Blue is an initiative of the

Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water Management aimed at

awakening teenagers interest in water and teach-

ing them a responsible approach to water. The project

centres around the web sitewww.generationblue.at

,which makes potentially dry subject matter into an

interesting experience. Urban water management and

the EU Water Framework Directive are made tangible

for teenagers through interschool competitions, online

games and prize draws. Innovative background material

in the form of CDs, teaching materials and info folders

complement the package. Generation Blue provides

teenagers and teachers with everything they need to

know about water.

The most recent (and exceptionally suc-

cessful) project was Mein Wasserpass

Enjoy Water. The project teaches a

responsible approach to water in a

playful manner and also improves the

students drinking habits. Amongst other

tasks, students were asked to contemplate their

drinking habits over a period of 14 days and to come up

with an original slogan that describes their showering

habits. A jury determined the top ten phrases from all

submission which were then printed on complimentary

T-shirts and distributed to the winning schools.

ARTISTMiki Martinek received the Adolf Loos National Design Prize

in 2007 for her water glass titled Europe. The 7,000 euro prize is

presented in part by the Austrian Ministry of Economics and Labour and

the Ministry for Education, the Arts and Culture every two years and is

also an enormous distinction for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,

Environment and Water Management, which commissioned the work.

It developed the water glass together with the artist and the Austrian

Association for Gas and Water (OVGW).

The glass was presented (together with the Achtel wine glass) withone of the three coveted design awards selected from 249 submissions

by an international jury in the product design/consumer goods cat-

egory. Europe was developed for the Austrian EU presidency in the

first half of 2006 and represented the importance of (drinking) water.

GENERATION BLUE

NATIONAL PRIZE FOR THE

DRINKING GLASS EUROPE

BMFLUW/RitaNewman

Prize-winning drinking glass Europe designed from artist Miki Martinek

9

BMFLUW/RitaNew

man

The internet water platform for teenagers has contributed significantly to awareness

of the importance of careful use of Austrias water resources.


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WATER PROTECTION

ACCORDING TO PLANFor decades, Austria has ranked amongst the nations with the highest water

quality. Since 2000, the EU Water Framework Directive has provided the governmentwith another important tool in order to strengthen this position.

The Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management will draw up a National Water Management Plan

(NWMP) by 2009, which regulates the building of new fish ladders, which regions chemicals and fertilisers will be further reduced, and where

sewage treatment plants need to be upgraded. The ministrys proposals will be published at the end of 2008, and anyone and everyoneinterested in the subject can inform themselves and participate in the debate; in fact, the EU directive calls upon them to do so. The national

plan will apply to all rivers, brooks, lakes and ground water in Austria. By 2010, the first rivers should be largely traversable by fish without

obstruction by power plants and dams. In the years thereafter, the plan will be implemented step by step. Thenceforth, Austria will update

the plan regularly to adapt to changing circumstances.

THE ROADMAP FOR THE EU WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

Children discover water in the

Donau-Auen National Park in

Vienna. Even in this bustling

metropolis, water is of the

highest quality.

Nationalpa

rkDonauauen/Weixelbraun

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE


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THE EUROPEAN UNIONis pursuing a noble objective

with the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Each

member will from now on be obliged to consider how

water resources can be used ecologically as well as

economically. In concrete terms, this means that each

state must reduce the level of pollution in lakes, rivers

and ground water, and keep this pollution to a minimum.

Lakes and rivers must be left to flow as naturally as

possible without denying humans access to hydroelectric

power or neglecting flood control. Combining economic

viability and ecology under the same banner is always

a balancing act. We are already much further in this

respect than other countries, says Austrian Minister

of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water

Management Josef Prll. For example, bayous and

floodplains have been preserved at the major new

plants on the Danube, and in some cases new ones

have even been created. Further measures to safeguard

ground water levels have kept the previously common

side effects of hydroelectric power plants in check. Here

we have a perfect example of being able to combine

conservation and economic gains.

The ministry was able to face the 2005 analysis

required by the WFD calmly. The water quality in

almost all Austrian lakes and rivers is very excellent

and almost all ground water reserves are of good or

very good quality. Austria has very good chances of

meeting the targets of the EU Water Framework Direc-

tive with respect to limiting pollution levels.

OPEN WATERWAYS FOR FISH

There is still one challenge for planners to face. Austria

has generated electricity using hydroelectric power

plants for centuries. Today around two thirds of elec-tricity consumed in Austria comes from hydroelectric

power plants. Moreover, flood control has always

been indispensable in a mountainous country such as

Austria. Consequently, many rivers are dammed. The

Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment

and Water Management will tackle this challenge in

the coming year wherever possible and wherever it

is required. Beginning in 2009, fish ladders will be

installed in hydroelectric plants where they are not

yet present. Individual sections of the river will be

redirected to create spawning grounds and nurseries

for fish. Until then Austrias planners will continue to

engage in the balancing act conserving the natural

habitats in and around lakes and rivers, and providing

humans with environmentally friendly renewable en-

ergy and protecting them from flooding.

Danube vista Schlgener

Schlinge in Haibach/Upper

Austria. Austria plays a central

role in protecting the Danube.

The beauty of Austrias largest

river should be maintained for

generations to come.

Hardly any other river in Europe has such a large catchment basin as the Danube.

81 million people in 19 countries live in this region, the area of which is more than twice

the size of Germany. The Danube itself flows through ten of these countries, and one

of them is Austria. Austria and 13 further countries founded the Vienna-based Interna-

tional Commission for the Protection of the Danube River - ICPDR in 1998.

The ICPDR aims to conserve the Danube for future generations as what it has always been

a natural environment, recreational and leisure area, a source of renewable energy, atransit route between cultures and a massive reservoir. A common plan for the entire river

basin lies at the core of the undertaking. Austria itself is the central driving force behind it.

After all, 96 percent of the country is located in the Danubes catchment basin.

The ICPDRs coordination of flood control measures between countries in the Danube

region has played a significant role in improving the water quality along long stretches

of the Danube. The largest problems nitrates and phosphorous have been

reduced, though not entirely eliminated. Austrias experts played leading roles in all the

measures and were able to put their expertise to use, reducing pollution levels and

keeping them at a minimum. There was a considerable amount of work to be done in

much of Eastern Europe following the fall of the Iron Curtain. Modern sewage treatment

plants were constructed there in record time, industrial water pollution has been reduceddrastically, and some plants with particularly high levels of pollution were even shut

down. The result has been a significant improvement in the water quality in the lower

course of the Danube, which is already having a positive impact on the flora and fauna

along the river and its giant delta.

PROTECTING THE DANUBE WITHOUT BARRIERS

OTourismus/Fensterer

Neptun/FranzLiebletsberger

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AUSTRIAS ELECTRICITY

TRULY FLOWSShould you be sitting in a Viennese coffee shop drinking your morning coffee,

the pleasure is not only thanks to the excellent quality of water in Austria,but also to the power generated from water in over 4,000 hydroelectric

power plants. Together these plants generate 70 percent of Austriaselectricity, a figure that is second only to Norway in Europe.

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION in Austria primarily

means hydroelectric power. In hardly any other

country is the proportion of electricity generated by

hydroelectric power as high as in Austria, where the

share is 70 percent. This is due on the one hand to fa-

vourable natural conditions, with ample alpine water

resources and large rivers, and, on the other hand,

to the ongoing drive over the decades to expand this

area of the energy sector.

Today these investments are paying off more than

ever. Booming prices for other energy sources such as

gas and oil are bringing to bear the economic bene-

fits of cheap hydroelectric power even more. Further-

more, Austrias high share of energy from hydroelec-

tric power means that among the EU member states

it has the highest proportion of energy generated by

renewable means. It is thus in an excellent position to

meet the EUs climate protection targets.

The hydroelectric power infrastructure is therefore be-

ing expanded, and the additional 2.3 percent annual

growth in electricity consumption forecast through

2015 underscores the importance of maintaining high

levels of environmentally-friendly produced energy.

Austrias goal is not only to cover this additional con-

sumption, but to also reduce electricity imports by

expanding existing hydroelectric power plants and

constructing new ones.

SHINING EXAMPLE: KAPRUN

Indeed, much is being done to meet this goal.

One particularly spectacular project is planned in the

province of Salzburg in the immediate vicinity of the

large-scale power plant at Kaprun, which was con-

structed in the post-war era and was at that time one

of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the world.

The Limburg II storage power plant will be construc-

ted by Verbund AG, Austrias largest power company.

The total power output of the Kaprun power plant

group will be more than doubled to 833 megawatts.

When the plant commences operation in 2012, neither

the 43 metre high cavern housing the turbines nor the16 metre high cavern containing the transformers and

control room will be noticeable - the plant is located

below ground. Only the entrance to the cavern con-

taining the machinery will be visible from the exterior.

Aside from being particularly efficient, being optically

Rottau/Malta power plant in

Carinthia (left) and Wien-Freu-

denau/Vienna (right).

Around 70 percent of Austrian

electricity is produced by

hydroelectric power plants

Verbund

HYDROELECTRIC POWER


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unobtrusive is of paramount importance given the

significance of the Upper Tauern mountain region to

the tourism industry. The plants integrate seamlessly

into the surrounding landscape while providing cleanelectricity. Nevertheless, Kaprun is only one of many

examples in Austria demonstrating how hydroelectric

power plants can be built without harming the natural

and ecological balance of rivers and their surround-

ings. This specific knowledge is needed in many large-

scale power plant projects realised by Austrian com-

panies all over the world.

A campaign to modernise existing power plants is also

underway. One such example is the Aschach power

plant, one of nine Austrian power plants on the Danube.

Upgrading the turbines may only mean a four

percent increase in efficiency but, over a year, the

increase in production of 45 million kWh (kilowatt-

hours) is equivalent to the power consumption of

12,000 private households. Today, around two thirds

of the potential for generating hydroelectric power in

Austria has been harnessed. The remaining potential

is of particular interest to operators of alpine pump

storage power plants, where the short-term balance

of electricity can complement other domestic energy

sources, including energy from hydroelectric dams or

wind turbines. The right mix of energies is required to

reduce CO2emissions in both Austria and the rest of

the EU in accordance with stringent targets. The right

mix is unthinkable without hydroelectric power.

Storing electricity is not viable. In order to be able to react to spikes in consumption quickly, electricity production needs to be timed to

coincide with consumption. Regulating the production of energy by hydroelectric power plants situated on rivers such as the Danube is

only possible to a very limited extent. These power plants, which supply around two thirds of Austrias hydroelectric power, generate

electricity around the clock. Unable to react to fluctuations in demand, they are perfectly suited to covering basic levels of consumption,

not temporary peaks.

The problem is solved by using a mix of run-off river water and storage power plants. Storage power plants are primarily found in higher

alpine regions. Water is stored in large reservoirs and released through pipes as and when electricity is required. Storage power plants

can start up rapidly, which is perfectly suited to covering peak consumption. In this respect, they also have significant advantages over

thermal and nuclear power plants. Around one third of hydroelectric power in Austria is produced by storage power plants.

HYDROELECTRIC POWER FROM RESERVOIRS AND RIVERS

Tauern

TouristikGmbH

VATechHydroAustrian expertise on hydroelectric power

plants is appreciated worldwide, even in fields

which at first glance may not appear to be the

domain of a landlocked country. Yet Andritz VA

TECH HYDRO is involved in the construction of

the Shiwa tidal power plant in South Korea, the

largest tidal power plant in the world. The Aus-

trian company is one of the largest suppliers

of complete electromechanical solutions for

hydropower plants and is installing all turbines

and generators in the project. The Shiwa tidalpower plant is the first of its kind in South

Korea. Costing a total of around 250 million

US dollars, the plant will produce 543 GWh of

electricity yearly from 2009.

AUSTRIAN EXPERTISE IN SOUTH KOREA

The mountain lake created by the Kaprun plant (Salzburg province) integrates seamlessly

in the Upper Tauern mountain region, a popular destination for tourists.

13


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EXPORT HIT:WATER KNOW-HOW

Austrias generous water resources have shaped the country for centuries,and continue to do so. Austrias businesses have specialised on

exporting their experience in this area.

IN ORDERto safeguard the high quality of Austrian

water, ground water, rivers and lakes have been

tested for pollutants for decades. Today, strict regula-

tions apply to industries, treatment plants are being

expanded and new ones constructed. Austrias busi-

nesses have grown alongside such changes, and their

demand for highly sophisticated solutions has grown

with them.

Austria today exports highly specialised products and

services to Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and

the Near and Middle East. Revenue and export growth

in the field of clean technologies is ten percent per an-

num. Austrias businesses excel in the fields of water

supply and wastewater management. These compa-

nies supply pipes, filters, pumps, biological sewage

treatment plants and expertise on the desalination of

seawater, taking on the roles of planners and construc-

tors for both individual devices and in the construction

of complete plants.

TURNKEY HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS

FROM ANDRITZ VA TECH HYDROThe Austrian company Andritz VA TECH HYDRO supplies

equipment for entire plants. The companys core mar-

kets are Europe, North and South America and Asia. As

the main supplier for the underground power plant at

Goldisthal, the largest hydroelectric project in Germany

International demand for

Austrian expertise: power plant

technology has become an

important export industry

EXPORTING KNOW-HOW


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to date, the company supplies the core components

required by the pump storage power plant. Penstocks

supplied by Andritz VA TECH HYDRO are used by the

Ming Tan pump storage power plant in Taiwan.

RESEARCH AT THE INSTITUTE FOR WATER

RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

The effects of such hydroelectric power plants on the

environment are the subject of research at the Institutefor Water Resources Management at Joanneum Re-

search GmbH, one of the largest independent research

institutes in Austria. New water management strate-

gies and methods to tap into deep groundwater re-

sources in arid regions are also core areas of research.

LARGEST ELECTRICITY SUPPLIER IN AUSTRIA:

VERBUND AG

Verbund AG is as multifaceted as the researchers. It

meets around half of Austrias electricity requirements

by means of a grid stretching over 6,500 kilometres in

length. This makes Verbund Austrias largest electricity

firm, one that not only produces electricity, but trans-

ports and trades it on European electricity exchanges

as well as selling directly to customers.

Allplan GmbH

Consulting and engineering in energy and environment

management. www.allplan.co.at

Andritz VA TECH HYDRO

Andritz VA TECH HYDRO is among the few companies in the world

which provide equipment for hydroelectric power plants withcomplete solutions (water-to wire). www.vatech-hydro.com

Aqua Engineering GmbH

Water and wastewater treatment expert from Mondsee.

www.aqua-engineering.at

Donau Chemie AG - Water Technology Business

Solutions for industrial and community sewage treatment,

cleaning products and disinfectants for swimming pools.

www.donau-chemie.at

evn Wasser

Accessing, storing, piping and delivering drinking and industrial

water, managing waterworks. www.evnwasser.at

FREYLIT Umwelttechnik Ges.m.b.H.Development, manufacturing and sales of sewage treatment and

processing plants. www.freylit.com

International Water Management WABAG

Services for water and sewage networks. Financing of infrastructure

projects, operation of communal plants. www.wabag.com

Institute for Water Resources Management (Joanneum)

Water management a scientific perspective from researchers at

the private Joanneum Research institute. www.joanneum.at

Porr Infrastruktur GmbH

Handles infrastructure projects for the Porr corporation, e.g.sewage disposal and water networks. www.porr-solutions.com

SETEC Engineering

Planning, construction and digitised modelling of municipal

infrastructure, planning and monitoring of sanitary and

development measures in the field of drinking water.

www.setec.at

Verbund AG

Verbund AG covers around half of Austrias electricity consumption,

making it Austrias largest electricity utility. Approximately 90%

of Verbunds electricity comes from hydro power, which makes it

one of the most environmentally-friendly generators of electrici-

ty in the European Union. www.verbund.atVoith Siemens Hydro Power Generation

Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation is a joint venture between

Voith and Siemens in the field of mechanical and electrical

upgrades for hydroelectric power plants. www.voithsiemens.de

Austrian businesses offer a wide range of products and services for water supply and wastewater management both domestically and

abroad. In order to facilitate contact for these businesses, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour has launched an online

database which can be found at www.umwelttechnik.at. The platform provides comprehensive information about hundreds of Austrian

companies and experts in the environmental technology and water industries, from general contractors for plant building and specialists

for filters and pipes, to water managers and skilled tradespeople.

WWW.UMWELTTECHNIK.AT: COMPREHENSIVE EXPERTISE

AUSTRIAN WATER EXPERTS

Austrian businesses export

technology and expertise to the

whole world. Andritz VA TECH

HYDROs core markets are

Europe, North America and Asia.

BMFLUW/RitaNewman

VATechHydro

15


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CLEAN WATER FOR EVERYONEThere are six billion people on earth one billion of them with no access to clean

water. Austria has charged itself with taking on the task of improving communalwater supplies and sanitation, particularly in the worlds most poverty-stricken regions.

WATER IS LIFE,a maxim that is often cited when

highlighting the significance of water. The true

meaning of the phrase is nowhere more apparent than

where clean drinking water is lacking. Particularly in

poorer nations and regions with booming populations,

such as Africa and Central America, the health and

quality of life of the general population suffers and

national economies deteriorate where clean water is

lacking. Educational opportunities often suffer as a

result: children may be more prone to illness and are

often responsible for fetching water for their families,

keeping them out of school. However, providing clean

drinking water alone is not sufficient. In order to fun-

damentally change the situation, sanitary conditions

also need to be improved.

There are practically no simple solutions, but a decisive

improvement can be achieved by implementing a multi-

tude of smaller and larger measures. In many places,

the awareness that simply building water supply infra-

structure is not enough is still lacking, says Robert Burt-

scher, water expert of Austrian Development Cooperation

(ADC) in Uganda. The necessary framework needs to be

put in place, otherwise plants will soon shut down again.

It is also particularly important to create an appreciation

of the significance of sanitary measures. For this reason,

the United Nations has designated 2008 as the Interna-

tional Year of Sanitation. Only if an understanding of

the relationships between these aspects is imparted, can

the funds and expertise required to develop the underly-

ing infrastructure reap long term success.

Austria is strongly committed to the water issue in

Development Cooperation because, on the one hand,

we feel duty bound by the United Nations human rights

charter, which states that all humans have a right to

clean drinking water, says Austrian Foreign Minister

Ursula Plassnik, and, on the other hand, Austria, with

Modernising the sewage

network is an important aspect

of Austrian support measures

for Macedonia.

Macedonia is not only one of the youngest, but also, following the collapse of former Yugoslavia, economically one of the weakest

countries in Europe. It was only natural that supplying drinking water and treating sewage were not exactly a top priority after the

states founding. Accordingly, the country was far from European Union standards in that respect; sewage was partially disposed of

via open canals, and if it rained for extended periods, the canals overflowed and became clogged with refuse and debris, which in turn

caused flooding in urban areas.

Modernising the sewage network has thus been one of the most important issues at the heart of support measures carried out by

Austria since 2002. As with all infrastructure projects, it took some time before positive effects became noticeable, but in 2006 the

first larger waste water projects were completed and three densely populated residential areas were provided with a modern sewage

system and water network.

MODERN SEWAGE NETWORK FOR MACEDONIA

COOPERATION

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its varied landscapes, has collected a wealth of expert-

ise over the centuries. Our experts therefore know how

to develop new techniques adapted to various circum-

stances and how water management can work even

under difficult conditions.

A substantial portion of Austrian development funds

flows into water projects on four continents. Among

others, Austria currently supports water projects in

Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda in Eastern Africa; Cape

Verde, Burkina Faso and Senegal in Western Africa;

Mozambique in Southern Africa; Nicaragua and Gua-

temala in Central America; and in the Palestinian

Territories. In addition to this, there are projects in

Southeastern Europe: Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia

(including Kosovo), Albania and Moldova. The largest

water programme overseen by the ADC has been

running since the 1990s in Uganda (see box). The

Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational

unit of ADC, implements projects and programmes

together with development organisations and Austrian

businesses in close cooperation with the local popu-

lation and authorities. Special emphasis is placed on

developing institutional structures and expertise, as

it is necessary to ensure that partners in developing

countries are able to operate and maintain the newly

created infrastructure into the future.

NO WATER WITHOUT WASTEWATER

In all its projects, ADC always makes sure that waste-

water treatment and basic sanitation measures are

considered along with water supply. In the worlds

poorest regions, there are no funds for constructing

or maintaining sewage systems, and in many places

water is simply too scarce to be used to that end. Ex-

pensive sewage systems are thus not always the best

solution. Rather, alternatives such as toilets which

dry faeces aseptically in a chamber in the sun may

be the answer. In many cases, innovative approach-

es are called for in the search for the best solution.

Solar-powered pumping systems and solar desalina-

tion plants are examples of what can be achieved by

harnessing the power of the sun.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT WORKS BEST

Choosing the most apt technical solution is ultimately

up to the developing nation in question. ADC helps

local water suppliers build their plants and brings

together researchers from both sides. ADCs staff

provides information services and offers advice in

technical, legal and institutional questions. The aim

is for each programme to develop independently after

the initial starting phase, says Burtscher. We wantedto meet this goal in Uganda at any rate, and have been

extremely successful in this respect.

Excellent drinking water is a

step to improving the quality of

life in developing countries.

What started as a small programme in a corner of Uganda has become a national initiative: in 1996, ADC initiated the South Western

Towns Water and Sanitation Programme, which aimed to give people in the Southwest of Uganda better access to clean water. Two

to three years after the project started, several small construction companies were founded and built along with wells, pipes and

communal sanitation facilities. In the meantime, local companies have taken on the detailed planning work. In order to maintain the

infrastructure over the long term, the small newly-formed water suppliers have joined together to form an umbrella organisation.

All this has happened in 40 small cities so far. The programme has since become a fund for furthering water supply and urban sanita-

tion and financing infrastructural development across a much larger region. Plants in a further 70 small cities are being financed in

cooperation with the EU. Beginning in 2008, ADC will also participate in a nationwide water sector programme to share the experi-

ence gained.

CLEAN WATER FOR UGANDA

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WATER TOURISMVisitors to Austria expect clean water and untouched landscapes, and they find both around

almost every corner. During the summer months, 9,000 pristine lakes beckon, during winter,

319 ski resorts call, while and thermal waters await visitors the whole year round.

OVER 30 MILLION visitors come to Austria on

holiday every year. For 80 percent of these

guests, an intensive experience of water, sun and

mountains is the prime motivation for visiting Aus-

tria. Austria is able to cater to each of these demands

with ease, offering pristine rivers, untouched moun-

tain lakes, swimming spots of the highest quality and

numerous mineral and thermal water springs. When

it comes to water, this small country has more than

enough to offer any guest, with dozens of options tochoose from: whitewater kayaking the first day, relax-

ing in the thermal waters of a spa hotel the next and

strolling through a national park the third.

HOLIDAYING ON EUROPES MOST POWERFUL RIVER

Any visit to Austria will invariably lead to contact with

the Danube. No other river in Europe has a larger

catchment basin. The Danube cycle path, originally

constructed from Bavaria to Austria, has already been

extended eastwards and is one of the most popular

cycling routes in Europe. Tens of thousands of cyclists

travel along paths where oxen and horses were once

used to draw barges upstream, traversing peaceful

farming villages, baroque marketplaces and flood

plains as they pass numerous cargo and passenger

ships on the river.

A total of 110 cabin ships are currently in operation

on the Danube, and many more excursion boats. Most

guests indulge themselves with a short trip to the pic-

turesque areas along the Danube, such as the UNESCO

World Heritage Site of Wachau. Those with more time

on their hands can get to see more of the Danube on a

cruise ship, sailing from the border town of Passau to

the Black Sea in around two weeks.

The Twin City Liner offers a particularly unique river

experience, connecting the two capitals of Vienna in

Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia. The trip by high-

speed catamaran from city centre to city centre takes

75 minutes, and is probably the only ship connection

in Europe that links two capital cities together in less

time than it takes to travel by car, train or aeroplane.

Consequently, many business travellers make use of

the attractive travel opportunity offered by the Twin

City Liner.

CERTIFIED SPA HOTELS

Another option is staying in one of the many ho-

tels that have devoted themselves to catering to

the general health and well-being of their visitors.

Austria is currently home to around 700 health and

spa hotels. As a result of the Austrian Ministry of

Economics and Labours priority programme titled

Health Tourism, the Best Health Austria certifi-

cate was called into life. Enterprises that receive this

certification are required to employ suitably quali-

fied staff and maintain high standards of equipment

and services. In order to ensure these standards are

met, enterprises are regularly visited by independent

inspectors and subject to stringent quality controls.

Best Health Austria enterprises take a holisticapproach, defining health as a mixture of physical,

mental and social well-being, and offer correspond-

ing services. These range from medical examina-

tions to gymnastics; from physiotherapy to mud

baths. Around 50 enterprises have so far submitted

themselves to the strict certification procedure, set-

ting Austria well on its way to meeting an important

target: establishing the country as the number one

health destination in Europe.

AUSTRIA IN WHITE

The days are long gone when winter holidaymakers were on their skis from morning till

night. Of course the slopes remain the primary attraction at Austrias 319 winter sports

resorts. But frozen water in the form of snow has been joined by yet another water

attraction for visitors to Austria. Taking a winter holiday in a health and spa resort

allows one to jump into the hot thermal waters directly after leaving the slopes. Aus-

trias hotel industry is actively embracing this trend almost every establishment either

offers in-house facilities or cooperates with a nearby spa or hotel.

This particularly applies to the large skiing resorts in Austria: for example Gastein,

which offers 200 kilometres of slopes and traditional alpine ski lodges alongside two

thermal baths. One of the largest ski resorts is Amad, which spans the provinces ofSalzburg and Styria and includes a total of five ski regions comprising a total of 25

slopes stretching over 860 kilometres and connected by 270 lifts. Others visit Kitzbhel,

the idyllic Alpbachtal or Ischgl, whose SilvrettaArena was named among the top ten

alpine ski resorts out of 176 entries.

Austria has much to offer

visitors looking for that extra

sparkle untouched mountain

lakes, pristine rivers, swimming

lakes of the highest quality

and a multitude of healing and

thermal springs.

www.austria.info

19

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FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,FORESTRY, ENVIRONMENT AND WATERMANAGEMENTDept. for Water Management

Marxergasse 2, A-1030 Vienna

+43 (1) 711 00-7123,

+43 (1) 711 00-7160

[email protected]

www.lebensministerium.at/en

FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR EUROPEANAND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRSDept. for Environment and Sustainable

Development

Minoritenplatz 8, A-1014 Vienna

+43 (0) 501150 -0

+43 (0) 501159 -0

[email protected]

www.bmeia.gv.at

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ECONOMICSAND LABOURForeign Economic Policy and

European Integration

Stubenring 1, A-1011 Vienna

+43 (1) 711 00-5789

+43 (1) 715 96 51

[email protected]

www.bmwa.gv.at

WATER IN AUSTRIA

Water, water cycle, water quality

www.lebensministerium.at/wasser

www.wassernet.at

Water Framework Directive

www.wassernet.at

Online water quality queries

www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/

umweltschutz/wasser/wgev

Water legislature

www.lebensministerium.at/recht

Austrian report on the

current status of the

Water Framework Directive

wisa.lebensministerium.at

Danube Day

www.danubeday.org/austria

Flood Risk Austria

www.hochwasserrisiko.at

Younger generation

www.generationblue.at

www.wasserpreis.info

European Union

www.europa.eu.int

International water

www.lebensministerium.at/wasser

www.icpdr.org (Danube)

www.iksr.org (Rhine)

www.ikse-mkol.org (Elbe)

LINKS

ADDRESSES, CONTACTS & WEBSITES

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH,FAMILY AND YOUTHRadetzkystrae 2, A-1030 Vienna

+43 (1) 711 00-0

+43 (1) 711 00-14300

[email protected]

AUSTRIAN WATER AND SOLID WASTEMANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (WAV)Marc Aurel Strasse 5, A-1010 Vienna

+43 (1) 535 57 20-0

+43 (1) 535 40 64

[email protected]

AUSTRIAN ASSOCIATIONFOR GAS AND WATER (VGW)Schubertring 14, A-1010 Vienna

+43 (1) 513 15 88-0

ext. 25

[email protected]/en

AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENTCOOPERATIONInformation Desk

Austrian Development Agency

Zelinkagasse 2, A-1010 Vienna

+43 (1) 90 3 99-2411

[email protected], www.ada.gv.at

FEDERATION OF AUSTRIAN INDUSTRYSchwarzenbergplatz 4, A-1031 Vienna

+43 (1) 711 35-0

ext. 2910

[email protected]

www.iv-net.at

AUSTRIAN FEDERALECONOMIC CHAMBERWiedner Hauptstrasse 63, A-1045 Vienna

+43 (0) 590 900

+43 (0) 590 900-250

[email protected]

http://wko.at

UMWELTBUNDESAMT

ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY AUSTRIASpittelauer Laende 5, A-1090 Vienna+43 (1) 313 04

+43 (1) 313 04-5400

[email protected]

www. umweltbundesamt.at

FEDERAL AGENCY FOR

WATER MANAGEMENT (BAW)Dampfschiffhaufen 54, A-1220 Vienna+43 (1) 269 97 98

+43 (1) 263 26 44

[email protected]

www.baw.at

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR THE

PROTECTION OF THE DANUBE RIVER (ICPDR)

Vienna International Centre, Room D 0412

Wagramer Strae 5, A-1220 Vienna

+43 (1) 260 60-5738

[email protected]

www.icpdr.org

blue austria water

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