Seekirchen builds new water reservoir to secure supply as Austria faces groundwater shortfall

The town of Seekirchen in Austria is constructing a new high‑capacity water reservoir that will hold 500 cubic metres, cost €2.3 million and operate autonomously with a photovoltaic system and storage. Expected to be commissioned in mid‑2027, the tank will replace the existing 120‑m³ unit and, together with 700 m of new pipelines, is projected to guarantee the town’s drinking‑water supply for the next 25 years, mayor Konrad Pieringer said.

At the same time, Greenpeace’s latest analysis shows that 78 % of Austria’s groundwater monitoring sites report low or very low water levels, especially in Burgenland, Lower Austria and Vorarlberg, while limited improvements were noted in southern and eastern Styria and Carinthia after June rains. The organization urges water minister Norbert Totschnig to swiftly implement a water‑extraction register for industry and agriculture and to introduce a levy on large industrial water users.