200 jobs

Over 83 million euros flow into water management

A dirty job that has to be done: Wastewater treatment is a key sustainability issue in terms of resources. (Bild: Stadt Dornbirn)

This year, the water infrastructure in Vorarlberg will swallow up over 80 million euros - from the electricity industry to wastewater treatment and avalanche and flood protection. 

Water - the source of life, an important habitat, but also a danger and a dirty business. In order to protect the positive aspects of this element and to manage the less pleasant ones in the best possible way, the state of Vorarlberg is investing 83.5 million euros this year.

On the one hand, the aim is to ensure the best possible wastewater treatment. A total of 1.4 billion euros has been invested in this area over the past 75 years, explained Provincial Councillor Christian Gantner (ÖVP) on Tuesday. He also emphasized that around 200 jobs are associated with the wastewater sector, making it an economic factor that should not be underestimated. However, investments are also being made in the water supply, specifically in pipelines and groundwater systems, for example. And last but not least, torrent and avalanche control is also an issue that has become increasingly relevant in recent years, and not just because of Rhesi, the mega-project for flood protection and Rhine regulation.

Meeting EU requirements
All of these water systems have to be constantly renovated and adapted to new circumstances - such as population growth, new climatic conditions or new legislation. For example, wastewater treatment plants are currently being converted to purify water from so-called trace substances (caused by industrial chemicals) - as a result of a requirement at EU level.