The extreme heat of recent days has placed a heavy strain not only on people but also on the water supply of many municipalities. In Pöggstall, in the Melk district (Lower Austria), the situation became so tense that a six-hour water shutdown was even discussed. The Grieskirchen Water Association, which includes the district capital as well as the municipalities of Tollet and St. Georgen, issued a conservation ordinance a week ago. This ordinance prohibits car washing, filling pools, and watering lawns. Mayor Maria Pachner (ÖVP) emphasizes that appeals alone are not enough—the ordinance has reduced water consumption by one-fifth to one-quarter.