Vienna is investing 70 million euros in first-class flood protection!

Vienna is investing 70 million euros in first-class flood protection!

One year after the devastating extreme floods in September 2024, the city of Vienna is taking stock and preparing for future challenges. The city is planning comprehensive measures to improve flood protection in the Auhof region, which is crucial for the safety of the population. The retention basin in Auhof will be designed to be highly resistant to 5,000-year floods in order to cope with the dangers of future floods. Loud MyDistrict, the retention basins were completely filled during the last flood for the first time since 1900, and up to 440,000 liters of water per second flowed through the Vienna River.

The renovation work, which is being carried out under the direction of Municipal Department 45 (Water), has been in full swing since the flood. The plan is to increase the defensive walls of the retention basins by up to one meter. In addition, the basins are being dredged and new protective walls are being built. The goal? A flood protection that can withstand even extreme weather events. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026, with a total budget of around 70 million euros.

Habitat for nature

What is particularly noteworthy is that the six retention basins in Auhof not only serve to regulate flooding, but also provide habitats for beavers, otters and over 120 species of birds. This makes it possible to combine nature conservation and flood safety. These measures are all the more important as climate changes lead to more frequent extreme weather events, which make foresighted construction projects necessary.

Expansion of protective measures

But it's not just in Auhof that people are preparing. Vienna is also strengthening flood protection in other places, such as on the Danube Canal and in Ludwiggasse in Penzing. Taking the right course is of great importance here in order to protect the population from potential dangers. The combination of hardware engineering measures and close collaboration with nature is a strategy that promises both long-term security and ecological benefits.

The city of Vienna is showing that it is ready to invest in the future and make its landscape safer for the years to come. Kufstein, new landscapes and flood protection – Vienna is pulling out all the stops to master the challenges of climate change. At a time when flood protection is becoming more of a priority than ever, it remains to be seen what other projects will come onto the agenda in the coming years.