© Pipelife
Smart water management: In Linz, the wienerberger solution brand Pipelife operates a unique plant for water use that is also used for research.
The green roofs, facades and parking areas of the Pipelife solution brand’s Leonding site not far from the Upper Austrian capital of Linz can be seen even from a distance. Beneath the ground lies a complex system of shafts, attenuation tanks, and soakaway crates, known as stormboxes. They are all part of a digitally controlled system that collects, stores and purifies rainwater before either allowing it to seep away or be put to use. Relying on digital monitoring and control, the impressive all-in solution is a pioneering project for the entire company. And so, it comes as no surprise that the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU) is also engaged in research at what is the most advanced water management system anywhere in Europe.
The first success: Project manager Matthias Kienböck standing proudly in front of a green facade at the Pipelife Leonding site.
To manage water efficiently – that is one of the aims of wienerberger’s Sustainability Program 2026. This is because climate change is leading to more and more extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, flooding and drought. In response, the company is strengthening its focus on comprehensive and sustainable solutions for water management, since this is the only way to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve the natural water cycle. Read more here: From Rain to Drain: “We Provide Complete Solutions”.
In Leonding wienerberger collects rainwater in an attenuation block consisting of stormboxes. After treatment the water is stored and reused or alternatively is allowed to seep away through another block of stormboxes. Wastewater from wash basins, showers, washing machines and the like, known as graywater, is also used for irrigation or infiltrated into the ground. As the original quality of these types of water varies greatly, the processes involved are highly complex. Together with BOKU Vienna, wienerberger is therefore investigating which solutions make the most sustainable use of rainwater and graywater.
“We are currently carrying out numerous measurements. This lets us generate the knowledge we need for integrated water management and leads to developments for practical application.”
The water management concept for Leonding was planned within just a few short weeks by employees and external experts. And the project has been a smashing success: The plant is the very first of its kind to have been approved for operation in Austria. The 8,200 square meter site is located in the water protection area of Scharlinz, the source of the local drinking water supply. To ensure its protection, samples of the processed water are automatically taken and analyzed before it is released into the ground.
“We are currently carrying out numerous measurements,” explains Matthias Kienböck from the department of Business Development Smart at Pipelife Austria. He leads the research project on water use at wienerberger and also studied at the BOKU Vienna himself. “This lets us generate the knowledge we need for integrated water management and leads to developments for practical application.” The team investigates, for example, how plant-based water purification differs from the filter and treatment solutions offered by the company. Research began in April 2024 and is expected to continue until June 2025.
“I am delighted to see how the vegetation on our collection box has developed. We deliberately chose graywater-tolerant plants that provide biological purification.”
Thanks to high-quality particle and flow rate sensors in combination with smart control and regulation technology, water levels can be precision monitored and proactively controlled so that predicted weather events can be managed even more effectively. To gain further insights, the water management system can also simulate heavy rainfall. This is achieved by using pumps to distribute large volumes of water between individual elements. These processes are supported by state-of-the-art digital applications such as the Pipelife SmartHub.
The team is immensely proud of the project and of their company for enabling it. “I am delighted to see how the vegetation on our collection box has developed. We deliberately put graywater-tolerant plants such as irises, strawberries and chives there that provide biological purification“, says Matthias Kienböck. The plants are sprouting, others have taken root and bees are buzzing around the flowers. Vegetation has also been planted on the roof of the warehouse. Here, in Leonding, wienerberger is not only saving resources, it is also promoting biodiversity and climate resilience: The site is paving the way for the research and innovation of the future.
