Groundwater levels across much of Styria have fallen to historic lows after months of below-average rainfall, the Austrian state government said on Tuesday, although public drinking water supplies remain secure for now.

Rainfall from January to October 2026 was well below the long-term average, with some parts of the state receiving up to 40 percent less precipitation than usual. About 38 percent of groundwater monitoring stations reporting data online are now below their previous record lows, according to the state government.

Supplies secure but under close watch

The state government said it was monitoring conditions and coordinating with drinking water suppliers. On Tuesday it informed district authorities, relevant state departments, water suppliers and municipalities about current groundwater levels so they could identify potential shortages and take precautions.

State Councillor Simone Schmiedtbauer said authorities were checking existing infrastructure and assessing whether supplies would be sufficient in light of the medium-term weather forecast. The state said it would continue to monitor groundwater levels and keep suppliers informed, and called on residents to use water carefully.

A wider Austrian drought

Styria is among the Austrian regions worst affected by this year's drought. An analysis of monitoring data reported in October found that around half of all groundwater stations across Austria were lower than ever recorded for mid-October, with 36 of 227 stations at their lowest levels since measurements began. Styria, Upper Austria and Lower Austria were the most affected states.

Long-term measures include the Water Network Styria 2050 initiative, which aims to strengthen regional and wider cooperation. The state and federal government also support the construction and renewal of drinking water infrastructure and the expansion of pipeline information systems. Daily Alpine reported the state government's statement, which was first covered by Austrian public broadcaster ORF.