Departments

Groundwater, which is the main source for drinking water in Austria, is mostly covered by soil, regulating the infiltration of rainfall into the subsoil and preventing undesired materials from entering the groundwater. The protective effect depends on the filtering effect of the soils as well as on the amount of water percolating through.

In the landscapes of Austria, the soils often are intensively used for agricultural and silvicultural purposes. This use has an impact on quality and functionality of the soil. Substances like manure, compost and pesticides are put into the soil where intense transformations take place.

Soil is degraded by water and wind and may be transported to surface waters. That puts a strain on our waters and impairs the functions of the soil.