In the Tuxertal (Tux Valley, Austria), like in other Alpine regions, drinking water supply is predominantly organised privately or in cooperatives from nearby springs. Currently used springs may become unsuitable in future due to increasingly strict legal limits and changes in the water balance caused by climate change. In this study, the Tuxbach catchment area (135 km²) is examined by a reference-date measurement. Within 11 days, 153 springs and creeks were sampled to evaluate their appropriateness. All results of critical parameters for the drinking water supply are summarized and displayed in a hydrochemical map. Locally the groundwater composition differs due to various changes of petrographic units. Analysis results are statistically evaluated and characteristic values derived from six rock types. It becomes evident that apart from ammonium and arsenic, legal limits are mostly met. Low discharge rates present the major challenge for drinking water supply in future.

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