PRIORITIES OF WATER MANAGEMENT
IN AUSTRIA
Karl Schwaiger
Acting water director
FACTS AND FIGURES ON AUSTRIA
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
AUSTRIA
Population:
8.353.000 inh.
Area:
83.871 km²
Density:
100 inh./km²
Capital
Vienna (1,68 mio
inh.)
 Predominantly mountainous
 High precipitation
 Alps: “water tower for Europe”
KEY CHALLENGES (1)
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
1. Provision of high quality drinking
water + environmental sound disposal
of waste water
• 100% access to water and sanitation achieved
• Focus of AT development assistance
• Strong plea for dedicated water goals in Post2015 SDG Agenda
New domestic challenge:
• to maintain ageing water infrastructure in good state
KEY CHALLENGES (2)
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
2. Cooperation in shared transboundary
river basins
• Bilateral transboundary water Commissions in place
• Partner in 3 International Commissions
• AT with long lasting experience
• 2 Conventions on transboundary
waters (UN, UNECE),
International River Conventions
(Danube, Rhine)…
 provide inspiration for
other basins
KEY CHALLENGES (3)
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
3. Comprehensive + sustainable
protection of all waters irrespectively
of their uses (i.a via legislation)
• 100% of waste water treated => nutrients and
chemicals no major issue
• Major challenge: reconcile flood protection
and hydropower generation with river ecology
 Long term challenge
KEY CHALLENGES (4)
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
4. Reduce risk of floods
• Provide more room to river, focus on non –
structural measures
• Search for innovative solutions
• Permanent challenge in alpine country with
high precipitation and limited space
• Enhanced by CC
KEY CHALLENGES (5)
WWF 7 / Korea
European Regional Process
15. April 2015
5. Mitigation of and adaptation to Climate Change
• Impacts on AT well known due to research
• Particular focus:
• make water supply more resilient
• Flood risk management
• Winter tourism – artificial snow
• Reduce CO2 emissions
• Enhance share of renewable energy