Research

The study will summarize current survey results among Austrian water suppliers with a focus on the flood situations of 2024 and the resulting effects on the reliability of water supply and put them in context with the results of previous studies. The work includes the design of the survey (draft, specification and additions to the questionnaire based on the previous surveys), as well as the analysis and evaluation of the new survey results and integration in a final report.

The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) also require the estimation of the carbon footprint (or CO2 equivalents) – at least for large companies and, starting in 2026, for all publicly listed SMEs or capital market-oriented SMEs (tradable bonds). In Austria, not many companies will be directly affected (ESRS reporting obligation), but indirectly, many more companies will be impacted due to the trickle-down effect: companies as part of the value chain of reporting-obligated enterprises. Additionally, media inquiries or inquiries through the banking sector are expected or are already taking place. Therefore, a simple estimation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) or CO2 equivalents will be useful for many companies and will become an important communication tool.

The aims of the project D-CLEAN (Improving Water Quality in the Danube River Basin: Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Wastewater and Stormwater Management in Small Settlements) are to: • improve water quality with special focus on organic and nutrient pollution from municipal wastewater and stormwater, using robust nature-based solutions/technologies like treatment wetlands for small settlements. • develop climate change-adapted regional wastewater management strategies that stimulate the use of reclaimed water for agriculturale irrigation, further reducing nutrient pollution of surface waters and contributing to the circular economy. • improve local water availability in agriculture under climate change conditions by demonstrating the use of reclaimed water from treatment wetlands for irrigation of nearby fields.