2023-05-09 13:06:00
BAD LEONFELDEN. With the official opening of four new deep wells, the Bad Leonfelden water cooperative has completed one of the largest infrastructure projects in recent decades: With the new systems, the supply of water consumers with sufficient, pure drinking water might be further increased.
Work on the new wells in the village of Dürnau on the Czech border began in 2019. Not only the very dry year 2018 played a role in the decision-making for this major investment, but also the growth of Bad Leonfelden: “Due to the constant population growth and economic development, the water consumption in our supply area has also increased,” says Thomas Mayerhofer, chairman of the water association Bad Leonfelden. Together with a geologist, a search was therefore made for new water sources.
“Rodl Disorder” tapped
They found what they were looking for in the village of Dürnau: Because that’s where the so-called “Rodl fault” runs, a geological fracture zone. The water reservoir there on the northern slopes of the Sternstein offers optimal quality and corresponding capacities at a depth of regarding 100 meters.
Kilometers of cable
In the past four years, the Bad Leonfelden water cooperative has invested a total of one million euros in expanding the security of supply. The first two deep wells were drilled in 2019, wells number III and IV in 2022.
When required, the water from the four deep wells is pumped from the newly built “Dürnau” underground tank and pumping station via the two-kilometre-long transport line to the “Liftquellen” collection shaft between the Sternstein ski slopes. From there, thanks to the natural gradient, it flows by itself into the elevated tank, which is located at the foot of the Sternstein just above the town center.
security of supply
When there is sufficient rainfall, the 23 springs of the water cooperative provide enough water, which flows into the elevated tank due to the natural gradient. The deep wells and the pumping station are therefore not constantly in operation. In order to have fresh drinking water available immediately from the deep wells if required or as soon as a longer dry phase occurs, a small amount of water is pumped from all wells into the elevated tank every day.
The project was mainly financed through reserves and current income: “As a cooperative, we don’t work for profit. Of course, we also have to build up reserves for the operation, maintenance and expansion of our infrastructure,” explains Thomas Mayerhofer.
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