Gigantic rainwater pump protects 400,000 Viennese from flooding!

Gigantic rainwater pump protects 400,000 Viennese from flooding!

An important project is imminent on the Danube Island in Vienna: the installation of the largest rainwater pump in Europe, which was delivered with a heavy-duty truck from Graz-Andritz. This impressive pump weighs an impressive 63 tons and has a delivery rate of 15,000 liters per second. Installation in the pumping station, near the Steinspornbrücke, is planned for the coming days and promises to be a big step in flood protection for the Floridsdorf and Donaustadt districts. Wien Kanal has found that this pumping station represents an important reassurance for the existing drainage system, especially after the floods in September 2024, when all pumping stations ran continuously for three days to protect the city.

The pump installation is supported by the city with a budget of eight million euros, which is financed from the wastewater fee. The new high-performance pump is scheduled to be commissioned at the end of 2026. The pumping station on the Danube Island, which was built between 1970 and 1980, is one of the most important components of Vienna's sewage system and will be significantly upgraded this year with the new pump, which is intended as an investment for 50 to 100 years. In the Transdanubian Plain, where there is no natural gradient, the use of such pumps is essential to safely drain rainwater and wastewater into the Danube.

Strong capacity and technological advances

The Donauinsel pumping station is one of the largest wastewater pumping stations in Europe and already has a number of existing rainwater pumps with a total output of 40,000 liters per second. This new pump will be integrated into the existing operation to increase drainage capacity and therefore provide even greater security against flooding. During dry weather, between 600 and 2,000 liters of wastewater per second are transported to the sewage treatment plant in Simmering during current operations, while when it rains, mixed water - a mixture of wastewater and rainwater - is discharged into the Danube.

But the project goes beyond just installing the pump: the entire building will also receive electrical upgrades to save energy and receive thermal optimization. This not only makes the pumping station more efficient, but also more sustainable. There will be a green roof made of water-storing plants, herbs and grasses, which not only ensure better energy efficiency, but also contribute to urban greening. In addition, the roof will be used in the future for the city of Vienna's solar power offensive.

Vienna Canal: An important player

The Vienna Canal is Austria's largest sewer network operator with over 2,500 kilometers of pipes, and 99.8 percent of households in Vienna are connected to the public sewer network. Every day around 500 million liters of wastewater from around 2 million people and 180,000 buildings are transported to the sewage treatment plant in Simmering. This comprehensive network consists of five main areas that provide relief to all of Vienna's districts and showcases the outstanding infrastructure on which the city relies.

The new pump on the Danube Island will not only help to increase the safety of residents. It stands for innovative solutions in the fight against the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather conditions. A good hand in planning and implementation is essential here, and with this project the City of Vienna is demonstrating its commitment to sustainable water management.

For the districts of Floridsdorf and Donaustadt, which have increasingly suffered from flooding in recent years, this pump could make a crucial difference as the entire city prepares for a future-oriented wastewater system.

You can read more information at the following links: courier, Vienna.gv.at, and Vienna environment.