“Water Year” in Austria
At the end of the international “Water Year”, Austria was able to look back on very positive results, which, however, also means, that the good work has to be kept up over the coming years. The Ministry of Life grasped the opportunity of the 2003 International Water Year, which had been proclaimed by the UN, to make obvious to Austrian citizens the quality of Austrian water. To this end, the Ministry of Life implemented an umbrella campaign with diverse activities in order to raise and intensify awareness for water in the population. According to a recent survey, this offer was readily accepted: 55 percent of the population took notice of the “Water Year” activities.
At the same time, the Water Year was taken as an opportunity to define the future of water in Austria in a broader context. With the preparation of the Water Charter, Austria has devised political guidelines for the tasks lying ahead in the next years which have been accepted by the Federal Government, the provinces and the municipalities. Thus, the results of the 2003 Water Year can be deemed very favorable. This means, however, that over the next years the good work has to be kept up, especially with a view to the implementation of the EU Framework Water Directive and EU enlargement.Austria is among the European nations most abundant in water resources and is rightly called the “water castle of Europe”. All usable water resources combined are estimated to amount to appr. 84 bn m³ a year , about a third of which is groundwater. Total annual water demand in Austria is appr. 2.6 bn m³ and thus corresponds to only about 3 % of water resources on offer. 99 % of the population are supplied with spring water and groundwater, a situation which is unparalleled worldwide. All Austrian lakes have a water quality that makes them suitable for bathing. 87 % of flowing water bodies feature quality category II levels (2001) or even better; in 1998, only 81 % had reached this quality level.
These impressing figures are also the result of last years’ persistent water policy and give us the responsibility to maintain this high quality level and to further improve the situation wherever necessary.
02.12.2005, Lebensministerium VII/1