Drying springs, lack of precipitation, and weak snowmelt are pushing the water supply to Austrian mountain huts to its limits. All huts are still operating, but if the dry conditions continue, some may have to end their season prematurely.
The ongoing drought is affecting the mountains as well. Particularly high-altitude Alpine Club huts and huts in karst regions are currently struggling with a strained supply situation. According to the Austrian Alpine Club, affected huts include the Voisthaler Hut in the Hochschwab Group, the Pühringer Hut and the Priel Protection House in the Totes Gebirge mountains, the Porze Hut on the main Carnic ridge, and the Freschen House in the Bregenzerwald mountains.
Short thunderstorms and heavy rain offer little relief: the parched soil often cannot absorb the water; instead of seeping in, it runs off.
Not a short-term phenomenon
For Georg Unterberger, head of the Huts and Trails department at the Austrian Alpine Club, this development is not an anomaly of a single season. For well over ten years, it has been observed that huts that previously had sufficient water supplies now have to cope with decreasing amounts. According to Unterberger, these are "direct effects of climate change."
His forecast for the coming decades is correspondingly clear: The vast majority of high-altitude Alpine Club huts are likely to be increasingly affected by water shortages in the future.
How the huts react
Nothing works on the mountain without water. "Water is the lifeblood of a mountain hut," emphasizes Unterberger – without a supply, operations quickly reach their limits.
The affected mountain huts are therefore implementing a whole range of measures. Showers are being temporarily or permanently closed; elsewhere, shower tokens are being charged and usage times are limited. In emergencies, entire washrooms will remain closed. In addition, there is an increasing number of dry toilets and water-saving fixtures. At the same time, the Alpine Club is optimizing the use of existing springs, expanding water reservoirs, and exploring further possibilities for utilizing rainwater.
What hut guests can contribute
The Alpine Club appeals to all hut guests to use water consciously and points out that even small things can make a big difference. Choosing a quick wash with a washcloth instead of a shower saves a noticeable amount of water. Similarly, it helps not to let the water run unnecessarily while brushing your teeth or washing your hands.
The experience has been consistently positive, says Unterberger: The vast majority of guests have been very understanding and have responded well to the cost-saving measures. Especially in the mountains, many people are aware that water is a limited resource.
"The bill for a foreseeable development"
The Alpine Club wants the cause clearly identified. For decades, they have been pointing out that the climate crisis is disproportionately affecting the Alpine region. The current situation is therefore no surprise, but rather the consequence of a development that has long been foreseeable, according to Unterberger.
With its own climate strategy, the association aims to be climate-neutral by 2033. Meanwhile, it's becoming clear that technical solutions are reaching their limits for the mountain huts themselves: In many places, the possibilities for further developing water resources are largely exhausted. According to Unterberger, the consequence is that some huts will have to be operated in a simpler way in the future.
So far this season, not a single Alpine Club hut has had to close prematurely due to lack of water. However, if the drought continues in August, this cannot be ruled out.
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Credits: Cover photo: The Pühringer Hut. Photo: Herbert Peterstorfer / Austrian Alpine Club