2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

AUSTRIA PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
The Austrian Waters Act of 1959 is regarded as a sound piece of law, with full coverage, but has been
let down in the past by the lack of effective implementation. The National Environmental Plan (NUP)
was launched in 1997, with a 20 to 25 year period for implementation. The NUP is currently
undergoing a revision and assessment programme prior to its formal implementation, along with a
comprehensive water resources management plan.
Freshwater
Annual availability (2000) 55.0km 3
Per capita 6,699m 3
Annual withdrawal (1995) 2.2km 3
Domestic (1987) 31%
Industrial (1987) 60%
Agriculture (1987) 9%
Municipal entity People
served
Wasserwerke Wein 1,540,000
Nösiwag 460,000
Stadtbetriebe Linz 285,000
Grazer Stadtwerke 230,000
Salzberger Stadtwerke 143,000
Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe 125,000
Wasserwerke Eisenstadt 119,000
Stadtwerke Klagenfurt 91,000
Wasserwerke St Pölten 49,000
Wasserwerke Bregenz 33,000
Source: EVN, analysts’ presentation 2001.
Groundwater
Annual availability (2000) 22.3km 3
Per capita 2,716m 3
Annual withdrawal (1989) 0.6km 3
Domestic (1987) 52%
Industrial (1987) 43%
Agriculture (1987) 5%
Privatisation gently emerges
Approximately, 90% of water is directly provided from municipal utilities. A degree of agglomeration is
taking place, and there are reasonable expectations of private-public partnerships evolving, rather
than outright privatisation in the medium term. The government’s Water Management Fund is used
for the financing of water and sewerage infrastructure, and water is seen as being cheap when
compared to German water. Wasserwerke Wien has been seen bidding for water and sewerage
concessions in Central and Eastern Europe, and Stewag, the Styrian electricity utility, is working with
Suez on projects and was part of the Maribor consortium in Slovenia.
MAJOR CITIES
City 2000 2015 Comments
Vienna 2,065,000 2,069,000 Corporatisation of Vienna Water
In 2003, EVN acquired WTE from Berlinwasser (see RWE company entry). WTE specialises in
services for the planning, design and construction of water and wastewater treatment plants in
Germany and Central and Eastern Europe. EVN is seeking to develop WTE into a water and
wastewater service provision entity. In 2003, Vienna Wasser set up the Aquaplus private sector joint
venture for contracts in Austria and Eastern Europe, while Energie AG has made investments in the
Czech Republic, acquiring some of AWG stakes there.
56 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006