Water shortage in Neustadt: Problems discovered when changing the line

Water shortage in Neustadt: Problems discovered when changing the line

In an unexpected incident, numerous households were temporarily without water in Neustadt/WN and the surrounding places on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. This event was originally not planned and presented the city with great challenges that had far -reaching effects on the community.

problematic water supply in Neustadt/WN

The water supply for Neustadt/WN as well as the areas of Reiserdorf and Störnstein is via two main lines, as Mayor Sebastian Giering explained. On Wednesday morning there was a change in the lines: one line was switched to a new elevator, while the other line that should take over the water supply during the work was not connected to the elevator. As a result, many households either received no water or just a weak trickle from the taps.

Missing communication as a problem point

The city's information policy was criticized by some citizens. The resident Stefan Hausdorf expressed that many older people may not have been informed about the WhatsApp channels or the city's homepage. "Older people in particular are often not familiar with modern means of communication," said Hausdorf. Many residents, including a pensioner in Georgstrasse, were without water for hours and could not provide sufficient information or care. This situation illustrates how important transparent communication is, especially in times of crisis.

emergency measures in the district clinic Wöllershof

The situation in the Wöllershof district clinic in Störnstein was particularly critical, since the water was also at times. Emergency plans have been activated to ensure the care of the patients. The fire brigade and technical relief organization helped the setting up of a manual flushing of the sanitary facilities and ensured drinking water. Nevertheless, thanks to the dedicated nursing staff, patient care could be largely maintained. According to the press spokesman Johannes Müller, it was possible to go back to normal operation on Thursday morning.

slow return to normality

After those responsible had localized the problems, it was necessary to gradually increase the amount of water because there was air in the lines. If the pipes had been filled with water too quickly, this could have caused serious damage. The high school and numerous residential areas remained without water until Thursday afternoon. The headmaster of the high school, Francisco García, reported that a planned summer festival had to be postponed due to the water supply.

an accident, but without allegations

Mayor Giering described the incident as an accident and made it clear that the original plans from 1976 were incorrect. The error only became apparent through the switch to the new elevator. If the affected management had been in perfect condition, the citizens would not have noticed anything from the work. Nevertheless, Giering cannot reproach any of the participants, since the changeover took place in the assumption that everything would work properly.

The event has highlighted the importance of a functioning infrastructure and transparent communication in the community. The reactions of the residents and the quick willingness of help from neighbors and the city show how important community sense and mutual support in such crises are.

- Nag