Vienna is bracing for several days of persistent rain as part of the extreme weather sweeping across Austria. 

While other regions face severe flooding and massive downpours, the Austrian capital is also under pressure. Continuous rainfall is expected to test its sewer system, underground transport, and flood defences. 

How much can Vienna handle before its infrastructure is overwhelmed?

Vienna’s sewer system put to the test

The torrential rains began on Thursday and are expected to continue until Sunday, possibly longer. Josef Gottschall from Wien Kanal has told Die Presse that Vienna’s sewer system is prepared, with all pumps and reservoirs ready to manage the heavy rainfall. 

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The system is designed to handle major rain events, but the report added that the forecasted 150 to 200 litres per square metre of rain will stretch the city’s capabilities.

While the city’s advanced sewer management system uses hydrodynamic models and real-time weather data from 35 stations to control water flow, Gottschall warns that no sewer network is built to handle extreme floods. “Even if money were no object,” he says, the scale of potential flooding in Vienna could surpass what the infrastructure is designed to manage.

In addition to the sewer system, the city’s underground rail network is under close surveillance. Wiener Linien is monitoring the situation and is ready to react quickly if flooding occurs, the company has said. Measures like sandbags and dam beams could be deployed at subway stations, while buses may be rerouted if necessary.

Although flooding in the underground system is not currently expected, prolonged rainfall could still cause issues in low-lying areas of the city.

Security on the Danube River

While not expected to overflow into the city, Vienna’s famed Danube River has prompted authorities to impose a “swim ban” on the Neue Donau (New Danube). Built-in the 1970s to protect the city from catastrophic flooding, the New Danube has often proven its worth by averting major disasters for Vienna.

The New Danube channel was constructed to divert excess water away from the main river, preventing floods in the city. When water levels rise in the central Danube, gates are released to allow water into the channel. 

READ MORE: ​​How the New Danube protects Vienna from catastrophic floods

Will Vienna see flooding?

While Vienna is unlikely to face the same level of flooding as other regions of Austria, the continuous rain poses a significant challenge. 

The city’s advanced flood protection and sewer systems are designed to handle heavy rainfall, but experts warn that if the forecasts are accurate, some flooding in the underground rail system and lower districts may be unavoidable.

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