Survey on DRINKING WATER DAY: This is What Austrians Think About Drinking Water Supply

The survey focuses on the public's views on water quality, knowledge about drinking water, as well as the perception and satisfaction with the services of water suppliers. The survey was conducted by Hoffmann & Forcher Marketing Research in March and April 2025 based on 1,000 telephone interviews and commissioned by the ÖVGW on a four-year cycle.

Survey Shows Clear Majority for Groundwater Protection and Against Privatization of Drinking Water Supply

The survey clearly shows that the protection of groundwater and investments in supply security are rated with top marks by the respondents. 93 percent of respondents emphasize the high importance of groundwater protection. Austria's drinking water comes entirely from springs and wells, the well-protected groundwater. Hot summers, the dry periods of recent years, and the increased public awareness of climate change are having an effect: the public's awareness in dealing with water is changing. "The high value of water and the associated maintenance of the current quality standard is therefore also an important mandate from the public that we have to fulfill. We must do everything to protect and preserve this important resource for future generations," explains ÖVGW Vice President Mag. Nikolaus Sauer, spokesperson for the water sector.

89% strongly oppose the privatization of the drinking water supply, despite ongoing discussions about possible liberalizations. "Regarding liberalization tendencies or possible privatizations in the area of water supply, there is a clear result here. 89% of respondents support the model of public, non-profit, and regional water supply. In a non-profit system, no profits are generated. The revenues are reinvested in the maintenance and expansion of the infrastructure," says ÖVGW Vice President Nikolaus Sauer.

Call for More Investments in the Future of Drinking Water Supply

83% support more investments in the drinking water network to ensure supply security, maintenance, and climate adaptation for future generations. "This is where the enormous importance of investments in the drinking water sector becomes apparent, to further increase supply security. Especially the expansion of interregional transport pipelines, the increase in capacities of drinking water tanks, and the renovation of the pipeline network are very important factors here to be able to counter climate change. Austrian drinking water supply companies closely monitor climatic changes and groundwater levels," says the spokesperson for the water sector, Nikolaus Sauer. "Austria's drinking water sector is very well positioned. Through structural optimization in the infrastructure and in the 81,000 km long pipeline network, supply security has been increased. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in recent years during dry periods and heavy rainfall events. However, further investments and funding from the public sector are absolutely necessary to maintain and expand this standard," says Sauer.

Many of the topics covered in the ÖVGW consumer survey "Drinking Water," including additional investments in water supply, the priority of drinking water supply, and standards for protection against pollutants and micro-contaminants, have already been established in the current government program. "Now it is important that we take action and there is a swift legislative implementation of the government program," says ÖVGW Vice President Nikolaus Sauer. The ÖVGW consumer survey 2025 on the topic of "Drinking Water" is available for download here.

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This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.