The Cistercians were famous for their masterful management and use of water. They laid out a network of approximately twenty natural and artificial lakes and ponds over several terraces. These were interconnected with an extensive system of trenches and canals.
Wetlands were drained and, especially in the times of little precipitation, the water was routed to the agricultural areas. The reservoirs were used as large water holding basins, and at the same time as fish ponds, and were therefore a basic element of food production. Large parts of the complex are still visible and, where preserved, still fulfill these functions today.
The Cistercians employed the water flowing through the monastery complex for latrines, waste disposal, the kitchen and stables, mill operation, the grape press house, craft trades and fish farming. The monks contained the course of the Salzach River in a canal within the walls of the monastery. It was then able to accept waste water and refuse, and still flows through the monastery today.