Floods in Upper Austria: Drinking water quality quickly restored!

Floods in Upper Austria: Drinking water quality quickly restored!

Upper Austria experienced devastating flood events between September 8th and 16th, 2024, which hit the southern Innviertel and Mühlviertel particularly hard. Thanks to existing retention measures and flood protection systems, serious damage was largely prevented. “The weather situation last September was a challenge that we only experience every few decades,” noted Environment State Councilor Stefan Kaineder. The exceptional rain, triggered by a so-called Vb weather situation, led to precipitation in many regions that exceeded the 100-year average. The region thus remembers previous flood disasters that occurred in 1991, 2002 and 2013 fireworld.at reported.

The protective structures built after the flood disasters of 2002 and 2013 - including retention basins, longitudinal structures and modernized dams - have proven to be extremely effective. These measures enabled coordinated monitoring, which showed that Upper Austria is well prepared for such events. Despite the damaging effects of the flood, such as the rise in groundwater and impairments in various water supply systems, drinking water levels are now safe to drink again everywhere in Upper Austria. The return to normality took up to three weeks in some larger systems, but the disruption affected around 30,000 people, such as ooe.orf.at reported.

These extreme weather conditions and their consequences clearly show that flood protection in Upper Austria remains a constant challenge that must be continuously adapted and improved. The events of this September make it clear once again that preventive measures represent an indispensable investment in the future. State Councilor Kaineder stated that it is essential to further expand protective measures so that the safety of the population can continue to be guaranteed in the future.