This stems in part from the current focus on ecological standards which give a new orientation to the way in which water resources are managed and maintained. Another cause for the turnabout in Austrian water management were the disastrous flood events in 2002 and 2005. The results of analysis show that apart from conventional river regulation schemes also ecological floodplain management plays a vital role in modern flood control. A particular challenge is that managing an eco-technically restored river which complies with modern flood protection requirements is more demanding than maintaining a conventionally regulated river. To ensure – also economic – sustainability in this field, all those concerned with water resource management will in future require work-related technical abilities but also a profound knowledge of aquatic eco-systems to offer valuable support to the implementation of the WFD and the enhancement of flood control.
Already in April 2005, the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV) invited federal and regional government representatives as well as planners to develop a training programme for water resource management aimed to help respond to the growing demand for qualified staff. The goal was to create a uniform training standard for “Masters of Water Resources” in Austria. A Master of Water Resources must have a clear understanding of the complexities in and around water bodies and independently take action to secure their sustainable management.
A committee of ÖWAV experts headed by Rudolf Hornich from the Styrian government developed a practice-oriented training programme. Susanne Karl from Betriebsgesellschaft Marchfeldkanal, who can boast much practical experience, was asked to run the training course. These efforts have resulted in the development of a tripartite training seminar for the ÖWAV Master of Water Resources. Paricipants successfully completing the basic seminars I and II become ÖWAV Water Resource Applicants.
An interdisciplinary follow-up course to obtain the title “Master of Water Resources” completes the training. The seminar is addressed to all people concerned with the management, maintenance and development of water bodies. The basic seminar I has meanwhile been held twice and has attracted more than 50 participants.
(Source: aqua press Int. 4/2007)
