Pool boom in Upper Austria: water pipes at the limit!

Pool boom in Upper Austria: water pipes at the limit!

The popularity of private swimming pools in Upper Austria is constantly increasing. Today it is estimated that there are around 90,000 pools in the state. The rush is particularly enormous on warm spring days as many people want to fill their pools. However, this poses significant challenges for communities. Klaus Wachtveitl from the water management department explains that it is an infrastructural problem and not a lack of water. The water supply systems are not designed to handle the sudden, high withdrawal volumes, which in regions like Buchkirchen leads to a doubling or tripling of daily water consumption.

In order to keep the water supply stable, an early warning system is used in Buchkirchen that sounds an alarm in the event of disruptions. Citizens are encouraged to voluntarily report larger amounts of water, although this is currently not an obligation. Experts recommend filling the pools at off-peak times and avoiding peak times. Coordinated regulations of this kind are considered necessary to prevent future shortages.

Challenges caused by the pool boom

The trend towards private pools is not just limited to Upper Austria. There are now 2.1 million private pools in Germany, two thirds of which are above ground pools. The German Association of Cities and Municipalities sees municipalities as having a duty to decide on private water use, while a general ban on pools is classified as inappropriate. Water expert Alexander Kramer emphasizes that the water supply in Germany is fundamentally secure, but long periods of drought can lead to water shortages here too.

In some regions, municipal restrictions on water use have already taken place due to periods of drought. This is the case, for example, in Bad Königshofen in Bavaria, where the drinking water supply suffers from low groundwater levels. Over the last five years, there have been summers with consumption restrictions, which shows that the issue of water supply is also becoming more relevant in Germany. Water consumption is viewed particularly critically in dry regions, where almost 30 districts imposed usage restrictions last year.

Water consumption and climate change

The water requirement in households increases by 40 to 60 percent in summer. An average above-ground pool typically holds 6,500 liters, which is 52 times a person's daily water needs. These numbers illustrate the burden caused by private pools. In Panketal, Brandenburg, there are time restrictions for garden watering and pool filling from April to September. In addition, a ban on the construction of new pools was discussed in Untereisesheim in Baden-Württemberg, but this was not implemented.

It is evident that in both Austria and Germany the growing enthusiasm for private pools is pushing water supply systems to their limits. While the boom in private pools has increased significantly since the Corona pandemic, a balance must now be found between individual leisure enjoyment and the needs of general water supply. At a time when climatic changes are becoming increasingly noticeable, responsible decisions are required on the part of citizens and municipalities.