A 160-year-old backwater in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county receives a key development

One million cubic metres of water will be retained thanks to the HUF 11.6 billion Tiszaderzs-Tiszaszőlős Holt-Tisza water storage and recharge project. The details were announced at a press conference held by the National Water Directorate (OVF) and the Central Tisza Region Water Management Directorate (Kötivizig) in Tiszaderzs, near Lake Tisza.

The development in the Tiszaderzs-Tiszaszőlős area will allow another one million cubic metres of water to be retained in the backwater formed in 1865.

Both water retention and range are increased

At the event, Attila Lovas, Director of Kötivizig, said: the project's backwater was initially 11 kilometres long, now it is 9 kilometres long and still active. The project will cover its entire length, which will increase its water retention capacity and allow the water to be transported as far as possible.

The event revealed that the environmental impact assessment has already been completed. "After that, we need to prepare the design, then proceed with the public procurement and implement the project as soon as possible," said Attila Lovas.

Both incoming water yield and rainfall are reduced

The press event was also attended by the Secretary of State for Water Management at the Department of Energy (DEC). Zsolt V. Németh said. "Whereas 15 years ago 114 cubic kilometres of water entered the country, today it has dropped to 98 cubic kilometres," he said.

This is exacerbated by the cumulative rainfall deficit: this year, the national water deficit is estimated at 320 millimetres compared to the 30-year average. In the Tisza catchment, this is as high as 400 millimetres (the long-term average in Hungary is 500-800 mm - ed.), he said, noting that evaporation has doubled in the last 30 years.

The canals performed well in the summer drought

The Minister of State pointed out that the focus of the development period that will soon come to an end has been on flood protection, but the main task will increasingly be responsible water resource management. He also said that irrigation canals had been filled two months before the irrigation season, which had enabled all water needs to be met even in the record-breaking summer temperatures.

He stressed that a year ago, some 105 billion forints were spent on water retention during investments. Together with the 218 billion forints in the water directorates and the 70 billion forints for programmes implemented by municipalities, NGOs and national parks, this year 288 billion forints are already being spent specifically on water retention.