Research for safe drinking water: VIWA 2020+ brings cutting-edge international research into practice
New ÖWAW thematic volume makes innovative research for water management in the D-A-CH region accessible.
Vienna is one of the world's leading cities for drinking water supply: Around two million people are supplied with high-quality water every day, mainly from Alpine sources. However, climate change, population growth and global changes are also presenting established systems with new challenges.
This is precisely where the research cooperation "Vienna Water Resource Systems 2020+ (VIWA 2020+)" comes in. The City of Vienna - Vienna Water and the Inter-University Cooperation Centre for Water and Health (ICC Water & Health) are working together to create the scientific basis for a safe drinking water supply of the future.
With the recently published thematic volume "Research for safe drinking water" in the Austrian Water and Waste Management (ÖWAW), central results of the co-operation are being prepared for the first time specifically for the practice of water management in the D-A-CH region.
From research to application - a model with exemplary character
VIWA 2020+ is considered a model example of the successful combination of internationally visible basic research and practical application. The aim is to make scientific findings in the sense of translational research directly accessible in the planning and operation of Vienna's water supply and thus support fact-based decisions.
The co-operation is supported by the ICC Water & Health, an inter-university platform of the Vienna University of Technology, the Medical University of Vienna and the Karl Landsteiner Private University (KL Krems), in close cooperation with the City of Vienna - Vienna Water.
In an interdisciplinary interplay of life sciences, medical sciences and engineering, modern methods from micro- and molecular biology, on-site environmental analysis, sensor technology, data modelling and AI are integrated into the management of the water supply. This enables changes in water quality to be recognised and addressed at an early stage.
The focus is on scientific, technological and regulatory issues as well as global challenges such as climate change, resource pressure and population growth in order to ensure a long-term supply of clean and safe drinking water.
Long-term research for sustainable solutions
The cooperation is deliberately designed for the long term (2021-2029) in order to develop innovations from the idea to practical implementation. The basis for this is an innovative funding model established by Prof Andreas Farnleitner, Head of the KL Department of Water Quality and Health: "dual research funding".
On the one hand, competitive funds are acquired for basic research from defined areas of interest (e.g. FWF, FFG or EU projects), while practical issues are supported directly by the City of Vienna - Vienna Water. This model enables both scientific excellence - seven doctoral students have already been successfully trained (with more to follow) - and immediate applicability. VIWA 2020+ is thus making a significant contribution to developing the next generation of experts in both water management and water hygiene.
ÖWAW thematic volume: Research understandable for practice
The new ÖWAW thematic volume builds on the successful VIWA MidTerm Symposium 2025, which was attended by around 130 representatives from science, administration, politics and the water industry on 19 May 2025. Under the motto "Our drinking water - a mid-term knowledge exchange", the partners of the Vienna Water Resource Systems 2021-2029 research cooperation presented the first promising interim results and provided insights into the activities for the second half of the year.
The current ÖWAW thematic volume now focuses on seven internationally peer-reviewed scientific papers and the editorial, which have been translated and made accessible specifically for water management practice. All seven articles are freely accessible on the ÖWAW Springer website (open access, March/April 2026): https://link.springer.com/journal/506/volumes-and-issues/78-5
The articles reflect the four central topics ("FOUR CHANGES")
- Global Change - effects of climate change and global developments
- Technology Change - new technological solutions for water management
- Regulation Change - changing legal framework conditions
- Analysis Change - advances in analytics, modelling and artificial intelligence
International visibility and national anchoring
The high quality of the research work is also reflected in its international presence: results from VIWA 2020+ are regularly presented in leading quality-assured scientific journals and specialist conferences, including international world water conferences and specialised symposia in the field of water and health. The cooperation will also be represented with several contributions at the World Water Conference in Glasgow in 2026.
At the same time, it will be closely anchored in the national context: results will be presented at Austrian specialist events and symposia on an ongoing basis and discussed with relevant stakeholders from practice and administration.
Joint funding
The research cooperation is financed by basic funding from the City of Vienna - Wiener Wasser and competitively acquired project funds of at least the same amount from the ICC W&H. A total of 10 basic research projects have been funded to date, including 3 FWF, 1 WWTF, 2 EU and 2 FFG projects.
- Information on ICC Water & Health
- Information on the City of Vienna - Vienna Water (MA 31)
- Information on the City of Vienna - Testing, Inspection and Certification Centre (MA 39)
