EVN Wasser GmbH, the largest water supplier in Lower Austria, implemented a groundbreaking infrastructure project between 2020 and 2025: the new construction of the drinking water Waldviertel pipeline. This 60-kilometre-long main supply pipeline from the Grunddorf/Donaudorf fountain field to Zwettl secures the future supply of high-quality drinking water to around 120,000 inhabitants – an investment in quality of life and future security for an entire region.
The challenge
The water supply in the Waldviertel presented the project managers with a demanding technical task. Over a distance of 60 kilometers, drinking water with a capacity of up to 120 liters per second – equivalent to about 160,000 cubic meters or one million bathtubs per year – had to be transported reliably and efficiently. The biggest challenge: considerable differences in altitude along the entire route. The pipeline crosses four pipeline areas between several elevated tanks, each of which requires its own pressure booster stations with precisely coordinated pump technology. These lead from Diendorf to the Loisberg elevated reservoir, from this to the Mittelberg elevated reservoir, then on to the Pallweis elevated reservoir and finally towards Zwettl.
The requirements were clearly defined: maximum reliability for critical infrastructure, energy-efficient solutions to minimize operating costs over decades, and the ability to safely handle the required flow rates even under changing conditions. With a total budget of 50 million euros for the project, economic efficiency was also a central criterion.
The solution
The close cooperation between Xylem and EVN Wasser GmbH resulted in tailor-made pump solutions for all four pressure booster stations. Our experts combined global technology leadership with local know-how to develop a solution that is precisely tailored to the specific requirements of each individual station. The basis was the proven Lowara MPV multistage pump – an intelligent combination of efficiency, reliability and easy maintenance. Each station has been individually configured to ensure optimal performance while maintaining maximum security of supply. A total of 16 MPV multistage pumps were installed in the new Waldviertel pipeline.
Intelligent system design for maximum security
of supply The selection and configuration of the pumps takes into account both normal operation and redundancy requirements. In each of the first three stations, four pumps ensure maximum security of supply – even in the event of maintenance work or unexpected failures, the water supply remains guaranteed.
In the final station in Pallweis, a flexible combination of different pump sizes enables optimal adaptation to different operating scenarios. This well-thought-out system architecture ensures that the plant can respond efficiently to varying requirements without compromising on reliability or energy efficiency.
The result
The joint project between EVN Wasser GmbH and Xylem impressively demonstrates how innovative technology and cooperative partnerships secure critical infrastructure for generations. Since commissioning, the four pressure booster stations have been working reliably and efficiently – day after day, litre by litre, for 120,000 people.