Two Austrian organisations were recognised and awarded for their inspiring work at the Gala Dinner of the 40th IAHR World Congress in Vienna, Austria: The First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline received the 6th IAHR Hydro-Environment World Heritage Award, and Viadonau received the 5th IAHR Industry Innovation Award. These IAHR awards aim at giving international professional recognition to the work of local hydro-environment engineers.

IAHR Hydro-Environment World Heritage Award

Established in 2012, the IAHR Hydro-Environment World Heritage Award is conferred on a local infrastructure of lasting and international importance which has demonstrably have stood the test of time (be at least a hundred years old) and be accepted and valued nationally.

IAHR conferred its 6th IAHR Hydro-Environment World Heritage Award to The First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline. Opened in 1873, it provides a major part of Vienna's water supply and it's the first source of safe drinking water for the city.

IAHR Industry Innovation Award

The IAHR Industry Innovation Award is conferred by IAHR on a recent local innovation in design of lasting and international importance.

IAHR confered its 5th IAHR Industry and Innovation Award to Viadonau, the Federal Waterway Administration in Austria, charged with the task of ensuring the sustainable development of the Danube waterway. Viadonau is very innovative in waterway planning and management. This includes courageous types of hydraulic engineering measures in a large navigable river such as bank restoration, side arm reconnection, innovative groin restructuring and reshaping, bedload management, being a best practise example for other waterways. Viadonau is cooperating with universities intensively to constantly improve the navigability, ecosystem, and flood risk management.