At just under 40 °C, a new temperature record for the month of June was set in Vienna at the end of June. The exceptional heatwave was clearly felt by all of us but it is not only people who suffer from prolonged heat. Our water bodies are also sensitive to high temperatures.
Rising water temperatures, high evaporation rates and prolonged periods of low water levels are putting rivers and lakes under increasing pressure. Falling oxygen levels, increased algae growth and altered habitats pose major challenges for many aquatic organisms. In smaller watercourses, prolonged dry spells and a lack of rainfall can even lead to individual sections of watercourses drying up.
Changes in our water bodies are often not apparent at first glance, however, they can be detected through precise measurements and continuous monitoring. It is precisely under such conditions that reliable measurement data becomes all the more important. Through our monitoring programmes and precise laboratory analyses, we help to identify changes at an early stage and objectively assess the condition of our water bodies.
The heatwave demonstrates once again how important independent measurements and methodologically sound analyses are for protecting our environment. After all, sustainable water protection begins with robust data.

The Freudensee in Hauzenberg is facing ecological challenges: Increasing cyanobacterial blooms have been affecting water quality and the bathing experience for several years. To address this issue, the DWS Hydro-Ökologie GmbH has been commissioned by the City of Hauzenberg to carry out an aquatic ecological monitoring program and to develop a restoration concept.

Over the summer months, the DWS team conducts regular sampling of the lake and performs comprehensive analyses of the collected data. In addition, key ecological parameters are assessed to identify the underlying causes of the pollution.

Based on these findings, a tailored set of measures is developed to sustainably improve water quality and to ensure the long-term use of the Freudensee as a recreational bathing site.

Even in freezing temperatures and challenging conditions, our colleagues give their best and are well equipped to carry out sampling professionally. Because environmental protection and water monitoring are a year-round business for us.