Image: (Weihbold)
In March of the previous year, the Austrian groundwater situation was partly problematic, as shown by the data from the Hydrographic Service. A year later, the Agriculture Minister Nobert Totschnig (ÖVP), who is responsible for water supply, was able to report “a favorable starting position” for water supplies in the first quarter of the year – as a result of the above-average rainfall in the last quarter of 2023. To date.
“The groundwater levels are currently at a high level in most federal states,” said Totschnig, summarizing the development, because “sufficient snow and precipitation in recent months has ensured that the groundwater situation is significantly better compared to the previous year,” he said it in a broadcast on Friday. However, the situation in the east of the country is “an exception” – here the groundwater levels are “somewhat lower due to the deficits from previous years” – but also better than in 2023.
- On the monthly water balance of the Ministry of Agriculture
More precipitation
Because 2023 was an extreme year, not just in terms of warmth, as shown by the Geosphere annual balance sheet. In Austria, 16 percent more precipitation was recorded than in an average year, with the autumn months in particular being responsible for this. In retrospect, 2022 was completely different and was one of the driest years in the history of measurements. The consequences were visible on the ehyd portal in March a year ago: historically low levels were recorded at 34 of 218 measuring stations, 96 other places were “low” on the five-stage scale – currently five were at historically low levels in 2024 and 29 were at ” low”.
The “drinking water security plan” presented last year with the “data bases and forecasts for forward-looking planning” should provide another trend approximately every quarter – an initial overview for 2024 is available. This was created by the Hydrography Austria in the Ministry of Agriculture (BML) and the hydrographic services of the federal states. Looking back, last January generally showed sufficient precipitation again, “although slight deficits were observed in East Tyrol, the south of Salzburg and Upper Styria.” February was drier in the east, south and southeast.
- Current groundwater data
The Geosphere forecast at the turn of the month from February to March showed an increase in the climatic water balance “back into the normal and humid range”. For the second half of the current month, it was said that “according to the most current calculations, the precipitation anomalies across the whole of Central Europe would indicate slightly too wet conditions.” “It is currently difficult to estimate how the situation will develop in the spring, but it is clear that our drinking water resources are secure,” concluded Totschnig.
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Source: Nachrichten
