Petition is addressed to: Mag. Norbert Totschnig, Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft

Municipal wastewater treatment plants collect wastewater from hospitals, the general public and agriculture. This makes them unwanted collection points for antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and contrast agents, among other things. Studies show that these are released into the wider environment, e.g. into bathing lakes, despite certain treatment methods (see Annex 1).

Lake Neusiedl is also massively affected by wastewater discharges. In addition to wastewater from the population, wastewater from the Eisenstadt hospital has also been discharged into the lake for years (the Eisenstadt wastewater treatment plant does not even have a fourth treatment stage, although even this could not filter all pharmaceutical residues (see Annexes 2 and 9).

Pharmaceutical residues are mainly excreted in human urine and stool and thus enter the environment via wastewater.

On the Hungarian side of the lake, on the other hand, it was decided back in 2010 that the treated water from the Sopron area should no longer flow into Lake Neusiedl. “This will relieve the sensitive, drainless Lake Neusiedl,” emphasizes Akos Varga, Director of the Sopron and Surroundings Water and Sewerage Works. He adds that in this respect, the company even surpasses its Austrian neighbors, as the majority of the treated wastewater there flows into the Steppe Lake (see Annex 11)."
Now the wastewater from another hospital (Gols hospital, site Natura 2000 European protected area, previously planned start of construction in 2026, on 13.06.2025 a postponement to 2030 was announced via the media, see Annex 5 and 6) is also to be discharged into Lake Neusiedl via the Gols canal. The Gols wastewater treatment plant does not have a fourth treatment stage either. This means that in the future (Gols hospital) this wastewater will flow into a steppe lake with national park status, without any natural outflow!

We will no longer tolerate such an inconsiderate and potentially harmful approach in every respect (see Annexes 7 and 8). In order to protect Lake Neusiedl, its water quality and its diverse flora and fauna, as well as to prevent multi-resistant germs in the lake water, we demand that the wastewater from the planned Gols hospital must not be discharged into Lake Neusiedl. We also demand a review of the discharge of wastewater from the Eisenstadt hospital with reference to the above-mentioned problems.