Subsequent to significant flood events in recent years, the project aim was to protect vulnerable people and properties in the area of Rührsdorf against the 1 in 100 year return period River Danube flood.

Additional priorities including maintaining the visual aspect of the town and landscape, provision of a flood control system that could be easily operated, the reduction of residual risks and minimising the impact on the existing groundwater flow regime.

Following a feasibility study, a combination of permanent flood walls and demountable flood walls was designed and optimised in relation to the visual aspects of the town and landscape prior to submission for planning permission. With a total length of approximately 1,350 m, the flood control system has the following principal components:

• Flood protection wall along with foundation and underground waterproofing over a length of approx. 950 m 
• Flood protection earth embankments, including a groundwater cutoff, over a length of approx. 400m. 
• A flood control pumping station including drainage pipes with a capacity of approx. 1,080 l/s
• Planning, delivery, installation and commissioning of demountable flood barriers with a total area of approx. 250 m² 
• Warehouse for demountable protection elements

• Feasibility Study
• Draft and Detailed Planning Submissions
• Residual Risk Analysis
• variants investigation & Sensitivity Testing
• Emergency Planning
• Application for Project Funding
• Invitations to Tender & Procurement
• Project Management
• Technical and Commercial Construction Supervision
• Site Co-ordination
• Final Approval

• client: Municipality of Rossatz-Arnsdorf
• project funding: provided by the Austrian Government and the county of Lower Austria Government
• total costs: € 9,850,000
• project period: 2011-2012
• contact person: Jörg Handhofer, MSc