<p>Soil water monitoring using terrestrial methods has a&#xa0;long tradition and is an integral part of the hydrographic infrastructure of research institutions, regions and countries. Ongoing technological development is rapidly expanding the range of methods and data processing capabilities, so the cost-benefit ratio of costly in-situ measurements is constantly being questioned. The longer measurements are carried out, the more knowledge is gained from soil water balance measurements. Long-term data series allow, among other things, (i)&#xa0;the identification of long-term developments, especially in the context of ongoing climate change, (ii)&#xa0;the robust adaptation of simulation models, which can then be used to evaluate different land use or climate change scenarios, or (iii)&#xa0;the continuous verification and improvement of large-scale regionalised water or energy balance models. When setting up and operating a&#xa0;monitoring network for long-term observation of the soil water balance, various external influences that could jeopardize long-term operation must be carefully considered. In addition, data security requires a&#xa0;great deal of effort, starting with ongoing functional and quality control, data correction and the seamless storage of metadata from ongoing operations. This article provides an overview of all these aspects and relates them to existing monitoring networks in Austria. Based on exemplary analyses of measurement series from the Austrian hydrographic monitoring network, possibilities and necessities are outlined as to how the potential of terrestrial soil water monitoring can be efficiently and profitably exploited through a&#xa0;modern combination of various innovative methods.</p>