Artificial water replenishment helps the landscape’s natural adaptability

(Photo: AM/Török Levente)

Imre Hubai reminded that the lack of precipitation has been going on for the second year now, which is causing a dramatic decrease in the water resources stored in the soil in Hungary. This triggers unfavorable processes that accelerate climate change and prevent the seepage of precipitation into the soil. The latter must be artificially replaced by retaining storable surface water, which can be used by plants to absorb and accumulate the evaporating water resources – he said. He added: this way the landscape can be cooled, and this way nature’s adaptability can be improved with water, which is the fuel of the landscape. All this also helps farmers adapt to climate change by expanding irrigation options and facilitating access, he pointed out. According to him, the government acted in time and, within the framework of the drought protection action plan, provided immediate funds of 4.7 billion forints for the necessary water replenishment and related riverbed and bank arrangement works. Interventions are being carried out at 265 locations with this money, and so far 172 pumps, about 1,000 people and 190 machines have been deployed at the water replenishment sites. According to his description, riverbed and bank cleaning is currently underway on the Hanyi-éri canal, which involves 26 kilometers of dredging and 50 hectares of mowing, in order to create the conditions necessary for the uninterrupted flow of water. This work, which will cost nearly 4.5 million forints, is also important because the water supply from Lake Tisza, which is supplied by gravity, will eventually reach the Tisza – he added. He indicated that by filling the canal, approximately 82 hectares will be covered by water in the area of the Hanyi-tiszasüly flood-reducing reservoir, and its continuous maintenance will require the use of approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of water. This will be a long-term intervention that is essential for the ecosystem and will permanently improve the reservoir’s water retention capacity – he underlined.

The goal is water retention

Zsolt Szabó, the Member of Parliament for the South Heves region (Fidesz), spoke at the event about 7 major investments that are taking place or have been implemented in his constituency in the recent period, which are specifically aimed at water retention. The importance of these is shown by the fact that farmers in the vicinity of active water bases can achieve much higher average yields, and the quality of the crop and the safety of production also improve. The creation of wetlands also creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs in the area and the people living here from a tourism perspective, he noted. Lőrinc Fejes, the Kisköre section engineer of the Central Tisza Region Water Management Directorate, explained: the water retention and water replacement interventions taking place in the region affect 11 settlements. The amount of water stored in the Hanyi and Sajfoki canals is currently approaching 2 million cubic meters, he added. According to him, the section engineering department, which operates in 20 settlements, employs about 140 public workers in addition to water management specialists.

MTI