Autarkie & Me • Episode 26 • Home wells

Water as the basis of real self-sufficiency

The “Autarkie & Me” broadcast of 15.04.2026 focuses on a topic that could hardly be more elementary: water. More precisely, it is about the home well as a means of self-sufficient water supply. The guest is Ing. Gottfried Herrmann, chairman of the Wasserschutzwacht NÖ (Lower Austrian Water Protection Watch), who has gathered extensive expertise over decades on water, water quality, wells, water protection and practical help with water problems.

Water is not just a raw material. It is a basis of life, a health factor and a central element of any real self-sufficiency. When people talk about self-sufficiency, they often think first of energy, food or heat. But without reliable access to clean water, any form of independence remains incomplete.

The home well in particular can play an important role here. It offers not only a technical means of water supply, but also symbolises personal responsibility, closeness to nature and the awareness that vital resources must be protected, cared for and understood.

Gottfried Herrmann and his relationship with water

Gottfried Herrmann has been working intensively on the subject of water for over 30 years. Through a GAIA member, he came into contact with the Wasserschutzwacht around 2013. Later the board asked him to take on responsibility in future. Over many years, this led to a valuable transfer of knowledge from long-standing members and officials to him.

Today he contributes this knowledge as chairman of the Wasserschutzwacht NÖ. It is not only about technical questions, but also about a deeper awareness of water as the substance of life. Water stands for cleansing, supply, change and connection. It has become a matter of course in everyday life, although its quality and availability are by no means a matter of course.

The work of the Wasserschutzwacht in Lower Austria

The Wasserschutzwacht NÖ has existed for over 50 years. Its tasks have changed considerably over the decades. Originally, the association was founded to clean waters of dumped rubbish and to keep an eye on water quality. Members observed their surroundings, reported illegal discharges, dumping and rubbish tips to the authorities and did educational work.

In the past, it was common in many places to dispose of problematic substances carelessly in nature. This included, for example, draining used oil on the edge of a stream. The Wasserschutzwacht counteracted this and helped set up used-oil collection points in municipalities.

Another important field of activity was and is advice on building reed-bed sewage treatment plants. Especially in rural areas, the Wasserschutzwacht played a pioneering role here. Stream walks with children were also part of the association’s work, raising young people’s awareness of local wildlife, the importance of clean waters and recognisable environmental problems.

During the 2002 floods, the Wasserschutzwacht provided concrete help. A major problem at the time was the contamination of groundwater and of home wells with faecal bacteria. Support was provided through advice and by sending out disinfectants, among other things.

Radio SOL Guest of the broadcast: Gottfried Herrmann, chairman of the Lower Austrian Water Protection Watch

Lower Austrian Water Protection Watch

Water quality needs awareness

Clean drinking water can no longer be taken for granted today. In many cases it is necessary to have water samples analysed to get a realistic picture of the quality. Even an analysis according to the Drinking Water Ordinance, however, can only show part of what may actually be present in the water.

The Wasserschutzwacht’s vision is correspondingly far-reaching: one day it should once again be possible to drink the water of every river and be healed by it. This vision sounds big, but it points to a simple core: only if people develop a new awareness of water can they also deal with it responsibly.

The broadcast thus recalls a central task of our time: not just to consume water, but to protect it, understand it and take it seriously again as the basis of life.

The 50th anniversary newspaper of the Wasserschutzwacht in Lower Austria gives an overview of the association’s history and activities (in German):

Download the “50 years” newspaper

Website of the Wasserschutzwacht NÖ

Autarkie & Me

Radio SOL series

Archive of all broadcasts

To Planet SOL

Receive Radio SOL

• Greater Vienna on FM 105.1 MHz with any conventional radio receiver
• DAB+ throughout Austria with any DAB+ receiver, including DAB+-capable car radios
• via the internet worldwide as a stream on radiosol.at
• via Spotify worldwide on all devices that support Spotify (Amazon Alexa, web browsers, etc.)
• via Audible worldwide, even without a subscription
• via TuneIn worldwide on all platforms that support TuneIn (Amazon Alexa, web browsers, etc.)

Radio SOL is a radio station from Austria offering a varied programme focused on positive content. It concentrates on topics such as health, sustainability, culture and awareness. The station aims to spread inspiring content and offers a platform for discussion and information that promotes the well-being and quality of life of its listeners. Radio SOL is known for its commitment to the community and its support of projects and initiatives that promote a sustainable and conscious way of life.

GAIA and Radio SOL have been closely connected for years. Both organisations are committed to informing readers and listeners about important topics such as renewable energy, healthy living and ecologically sustainable approaches.

With the series “Autarkie & Me” (Self-sufficiency & me), Radio SOL opens up the messages and projects of the Society for Self-Sufficiency (GAIA) to a wide audience. Together we promote innovative solutions and practical approaches that help people lead a self-sufficient and sustainable life. The broadcasts are in German.