Integrierte gewässerökologische Modellansätze zur Beurteilung von Gewässervernetzungsvarianten am Beispiel der Unteren Lobau

Floodplains and wetlands are among the most endangered ecosystems worldwide. River-regulation and flood protection measures cut off these formerly highly dynamic systems from their natural water level fluctuations and water exchange conditions leading to siltation processes. Restoration measures to counteract these developments need to be assessed for the effect on currently established habitats and communities in order to estimate their effects, as species with different habitat preferences and different protection status do react distinctly different. This article will present how habitat modelling was used in a case study of the Untere Lobau to assess and predict the effects of potential management measures. The Untere Lobau is a wetland ecosystem of the Danube east of Vienna. It is part of the national park Donau-Auen and a protected area according to the EU habitat-directive. Prior to the river regulation, at the end of the 19^th century, the Untere Lobau was a dynamic floodplain. Today, siltation processes endanger especially the status of the aquatic habitats. Three management options were investigated: 1) business as usual – No implementation of additional hydrological measures, thus siltation processes are not mitigated; 2) a water enhancement scheme – A small amount of water is supplied to preserve the water bodies at the current status quo; 3) partly reconnection – An upstream reconnection of the floodplain to the main channel of the Danube, leading to a more rheophilic characteristic of the system moving towards conditions prior regulation. Based on a model approach and calculating habitat preferences via binary logistic regressions of selected species from different organism groups, an increase or decrease of available suitable habitat area (weighted usable areas) could be estimated. This study proofed clearly that models can assess the effects of hydrological management measures on the biocenosis and that they are a valuable tool for supporting the decision taking process in wetland management.     

Fernkälteversorgung zur Vermeidung von Grundwassererwärmungen und Nutzungskonflikten am Beispiel der Stadt Linz – Bewertung auf Basis ÖWAV-Regelblatt 207 und qualitativer Nutzwertanalyse

Groundwater investigations in Linz have shown, that the temperature in the groundwater reservoir has increased significantly compared to the temperature of the environment. To investigate whether the existing groundwater facilities for cooling have a quantifiable impact on groundwater temperatures all given permissions regarding groundwater usage for cooling premises were analyzed in detail. Therefore data on the yearly amount and type of groundwater usage were collected and sorted for further analyses. Based on these data the length and the width of the temperature flags in the groundwater reservoir were calculated with the thermal formula of Ingerle (1988), modified by Rauch (1992) and corresponding to the ÖVAW technical rule 207. The temperature flags of every groundwater user with cooling purposes were visualized with the software ARCMAP 10.1 and compared with real data from field measurements. Furthermore an analyses of uncertainty for the length of the temperature flags was involved in the study. With this method the areas where a thermic impact to the groundwater reservoir is of a high likelihood because of existing groundwater usage for cooling purposes were identified. Based on this in a next step different alternatives for district cooling were developed involving both central (covering all existing groundwater users) and semi central (covering only parts of existing users) solutions. To compare and evaluate the difference an efficiency analysis was undertaken. In this article the calculation and results of the thermal flag analysis of all relevant groundwater users are presented. Two of the seven alternatives for district cooling are then introduced more detailed. Further the efficiency analysis of the different alternatives is described using economical, ecological and social criteria.     

Probleme bei Planung und Betrieb von Absetzbecken für Straßenabwässer

Sedimentation basins are incorporated into runoff infiltration systems and serve as a retention system, in which the sedimentation of particles occurs as a result of gravitational force. The effectiveness of sedimentation basins in terms of removing particles is highly dependent on design parameters such as their dimensions and drainage times. To evaluate the flow distribution within sedimentation basins, a conceptual model was developed using a tracer and compared to the actual condition at the treatment system. Here, a significant difference in the height of the connecting tube between settling basin and filter basin was found. This leads to a drying out of the basin, which significantly affects the flow rates and hence the sedimentation there. Based on a model experiment with colour tracer, the flow paths were visually represented in the basin, and both the concrete variant and the effects of internal structures were considered. It was found that the incorporation of a baffle led to an improved utilization of the basin, and to water being retained for longer times. Due to the lower flow rate and these longer times, fine and medium-sized sediments could be easily settled. In a field study, the performance of a sedimentation basin for the removal of particles was evaluated based on the influent and effluent concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). The street runoff treatment plant was monitored for one year and results showed that there was no particle accumulation in the sedimentation basin (there was no permanent retention of the particle loads). The mean TSS concentrations were 89 mg/L at the inlet of the sedimentation basin and 94 mg/L at the end of the settling tank, respectively. The structural design and operation of the system showed higher flow and turbulent flow conditions in the sedimentation basin, in which settlement of fine and medium sized particles was very low; as a result, the soil filter basin was loaded with runoff particles. Thus the particulate matter had to be removed either on the surface of the filter basin or within the porous space of the filter. The build-up of such particles can result in a significant increase of head loss due to clogging; therefore, filters must be maintained by removing the accumulated particles on a regular basis.     

Anteil erneuerbarer Energien und klimarelevante CO2-Emissionen aus der thermischen Verwertung von Abfällen in Österreich

Since combustible wastes usually consist of biogenic (e.g. paper, wood, food waste) and fossil organic matter (plastics), their thermal recovery results in climate neutral and climate relevant CO₂ emissions. Moreover, the fraction of biogenic materials in the waste feed is relevant for the amount of renewable energy produced. The latter has to be reported and might be subsidized according to national laws (e.g. based on European directive 2009/28/EG). The present study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the share of biogenic and fossil materials in the waste feed of waste-to-energy (WTE) plants on a national basis. The Balance Method, which is patented on a European level by TU Wien, was applied to 10 out of 13 Austrian WTE plants (around 2.3 Mio tons of waste corresponding to around 88 % of the overall waste feed in Austrian WTE plants). The method is based on the mathematical reconciliation of the material properties (e.g. mean chemical composition of biogenic and fossil materials) and routinely recorded operating data of WTE plants (e.g. flue gas volume, CO₂ and O₂-content in the dry flue gas, steam production). The results demonstrate large variations for the share of energy from biogenic sources in the different WTE plants, ranging from 35.7 ± 2.4 % to 61.2 ± 2.7 % (based on annual averages). Additionally, for several WTE plants large temporal variations can be observed based on monthly mean values. Thus, a plant-specific and continuous evaluation of the waste composition in WTE plants (which the Balance Method allows to do at reasonable efforts) can be recommended for a reliable reporting of the renewable share of energy or fossil CO₂ emissions from waste incineration. The energy input which stems from fossil and biogenic sources can be estimated to 11,450 ± 120 TJ and 10,730 ± 110 TJ, respectively for the year 2014 (for the 10 WTE plants). In total 1060 ± 24 kt fossil CO₂ emissions from the thermal recovery of waste in Austria’s WTE plants in 2014 could be determined (estimation for all 13 WTE plants).