Surplus water reaching the annual irrigation demand is stored in the landscape

(Photo: Pixabay)

Imre Hubai explained at a press conference held at the Holt-Sebes-Körös backwater, which had previously been dry for ten years and is now full of water, that 512.6 million cubic meters of water have been stored nationwide through water retention measures, of which 124.1 million cubic meters are in the riverbed, 97.3 million cubic meters in backwaters, reservoirs, and landscape flooding, and 291.2 million cubic meters in dams. 50-100 million cubic meters of water is also available for replenishing fish ponds, he added. The priority is to provide drinking water, municipal water supply, and also to water animals and irrigate. In addition, when possible, water is also released into the landscape for ecological purposes – he emphasized. A state of readiness against water shortages has been ordered in 54 water shortage management districts in the territory of 10 water management directorates in the country, of which 15 districts are at level two and 39 at level three. 885 people and 190 machines participated in the works for 4,315 operating hours – he explained. Thirty-eight tertiary waterworks for irrigation purposes have been filled, but last week the filling of the remaining ones had to be suspended due to the water shortage and the low water level of the rivers, which is “close to a historic low”, added Imre Hubai.

The water sector has included 250 kilometers of additional canal sections in the water supply

The combined area of ​​impact of the Water into the Landscape type interventions has increased to 54,669 hectares. The state secretary said that by the end of 2026, they would like to achieve 3 billion cubic meters of additional water in the “landscape”, but for this, reservoir capacities must be increased. The government has provided 4.7 billion forints of additional resources for the prevention and mitigation of drought damage, of which 815.2 million forints have been used and the water management directorates have committed an additional 1.2 billion forints. He noted that this year’s drought may approach or even exceed that of 2022, with the accumulated precipitation deficit being 315 millimeters nationwide, but over 400 millimeters in the Great Plain and the Tisza catchment area. Imre Hubai also emphasized that they are paying special attention to Lake Tisza, where more than 520 million cubic meters of water are stored, with the continuous discharge of which they can also replace the ecological water needs in the Lower Tisza, and they can also ensure the water base of Szolnok. He said that the water level currently measured in Szolnok is 10 centimeters lower than the lowest level so far, but the drinking water supply for the residents of the region will be ensured in the coming months through the floating plant installed on the Tisza “no matter how low the water level of the Tisza is”. The state secretary also said that according to forecasts, between 16 and 60 millimeters of precipitation is expected in the Tisza catchment area across the border in the coming days, from which the filling of tertiary waterworks may even continue next week. Experts expect 14-46 millimeters of precipitation in the domestic watershed, which “will temporarily alleviate the water shortage situation this week and will continue to have its effects for weeks to come.” Imre Hubai also said that the impact of the Prajd salt mine disaster can also be felt in Hungary through the Maros River, but according to data measured at Nagylak, due to the continuous dilution of water by Romanian water authorities, the so-called conductivity values ​​are decreasing. According to estimates, a value of approximately 900 can be expected, and the upper limit of 1,500 has not even been approached, he emphasized, adding that the Maros River is also suitable for municipal water extraction and irrigation. The so-called Koplaló backwater in Szeghalm is a 4.5-kilometer, approximately 25-hectare area; approximately 400 thousand cubic meters of water were transferred here from the Sebes-Körös, primarily not for irrigation, but for ecological purposes – said Krisztián Csűrös, director of the Trans-Tiszántúli Water Management Directorate.

MTI