Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
“Water know-how” from Austria
Austrian know-how in the field of water management is recognised and in demand all over the world. The high quality standards that Austria applies to drinking water supply and wastewater disposal have motivated Austrian companies to make great achievements in the field of environmental technologies.
Austrian enterprises active in the field of water management can boast of excellent success in the areas of drinking water supply and wastewater disposal. Especially in the fields of waste and water management Austrian enterprises offer outstanding system solutions suited to sustainably improve the environmental situation. They mostly have several decades of experience and strive to optimise their goods and services through investments in research and development.Austria’s water companies have internationally recognised high standards in the fields of water purification, drinking water supply, technical know-how on water preparation and desalination of seawater, the construction of pipe and conduit systems, filtering and purification plants, surface water drainage systems, industrial chemicals for water purification as well as techniques for pipe system inspection and control systems of all kinds.
The main orientation of the “know-how transfer” by Austrian companies is currently in Southeast Europe as well as in the sunrise markets of Southeast Asia, China, South America and the Near and Middle East, and in the Arab world.
There, too, Austrian exports focus on plants for treatment and supply of drinking water (desalination plants). In Central and Eastern Europe, Austrian water management is primarily involved in the field of wastewater disposal or sewage treatment, but also in energy production and the exploitation of water power. In this context, geographical proximity and historical alliances are key factors.
In arid regions of the world the top priorities are the provision, the transport and the treatment of drinking water. In Southeast Asian markets, the booming industrial development increases the need for wastewater disposal plants.
Environmental technology enterprises in 2003
In the year 2003, 16.4 percent of all environmental technology enterprises were working in the field of water technology. With 44.6 percent, energy technology had the largest share.
Austria’s environmental technologies have become a field of employment with above-average growth rates which is of importance to the economy as a whole. On markets, environmental technologies “Made in Austria” have been noted for their robust growth rates, dynamism, innovation, and state-of-the-art technology. About 20,000 employees earn approximately € 4 billion (not including service providers). Almost half of the turnover accounts for clean energy technologies.
Importance of the environmental industry according to the turnover of 2003
(Source: WIFO survey 2005)
- 47.7 percent: Energy technologies (among them above all the combined heat and power plants with over - 40 percent, followed by biomass plants and water power)
- 13.6 percent: Water technology
- 13.2 percent: Waste technology
- 13 percent: Measurement engineering, control and feedback control systems
- 12.4 percent: Air technology
The contribution of Austria’s environmental technology industry to the nominal gross domestic product has been raised from 1 percent (1993) to almost 2 percent of the GDP. In 2003 the export quota in the field of environmental technology reached 65 percent. Exports amounted to an estimated € 2.45 billion.
One major objective of water management is to continue promoting the export of “water know-how” out of Austria in the future.
02.07.2008, Lebensministerium Öffentlichkeitsarbeit