Comprehensive infrastructure development for flood protection in the Tisza region

The project to improve water infrastructure in the Tisza Valley is nearing completion, according to KÖTIVIZIG. The HUF 5.6 billion investment, which is being implemented under KEHOP with EU and national funding, will be carried out by Duna Aszfalt Zrt., Horváth Építőmester Zrt. and KELET-ÚT Kft., with completion scheduled for the end of November. The project, entitled "Sectoral Infrastructure Development", will be implemented by a consortium of the National Water Directorate (OVF), the Central Tisza Region Water Management Directorate (KÖTIVIZIG) and the Körös Region Water Management Directorate (KÖVIZIG).

Access to the main flood protection line will also be improved

Gábor Harsányi, Deputy Technical Director of KÖTIVIZIG, reported on the progress of the development on 16 October in Szolnok, at the KÖTIVIZIG Defence Unit's site. According to him, during the project

• 50-60 year old defence centres are being rebuilt,
• new warehouses are built,
• a pumping station is reconstructed,
• and a special focus on improving the stability of flood protection embankments along some 48 kilometres of the river.

It was clear from his words that the development of the water infrastructure described above will contribute directly or indirectly to increasing flood safety in the Tisza Valley. He also outlined the specific details of the investment, which include

• the rebuilding of the Apava defence centre,
• the construction of the Karcag site,
• reconstruction and reversibility of the Gástyás II pumping station,
• rebuilding the defence centre in Szolnok, Tiszaliget,
• construction of warehouses at the Hosszúfok II pumping station and the Szolnok Defence Department site, and last but not least, improvement of the stability of flood protection embankments.

The work carried out on the embankments was justified by the need to remedy the phenomena experienced during the floods and to build the necessary temporary protection measures as a preventive measure. "In one part of these, we plan to improve the stability of the flood protection embankment by loading the embankment on the salvaged side, while in others we plan to build a water-side clay embankment to replace the rabbit dam," explained Gábor Harsányi. "The water-side clay embankment will be supported by a track structure, which will also improve the accessibility of the main flood protection line as an additional benefit."

Accommodation for those involved in flood protection will also be provided

As far as the details are concerned, the construction of the new Apava defence centre and the Karcag machine shop is underway at the KÖTIVIZIG Karcag section engineering station, as well as the reconstruction of the Gástyás II pumping station, which includes the electrification of the plant, which is currently operating as a diesel plant. This will significantly increase inland water safety and the capacity of the Gástyás irrigation canal by reconstructing the pressure pipe network.

The Szolnok Defence Establishment is a very important logistic base, where, in addition to the KÖTIVIZIG defence material and machinery, a significant part of the national defence stock is stored, some of it currently unfortunately in sub-optimal conditions. Therefore, new warehouses will be built here to allow for the professional storage of defence equipment and devices and to preserve their condition. The purpose of the new hall in the pumping station Hosszúfok II in the KÖVIZIG area of operation is also to ensure the professional storage of defence equipment and devices, which will solve the problems of the storage of portable pumps in the long term.

The project also includes the renovation and reconstruction of the Tiszaliget flood protection centre, built in the 1970s on the territory of the Szolnok Section KÖTIVIZIG, which will significantly contribute to the efficiency of the protection by providing accommodation for the experts involved in the work.

The physical completion date of the project is scheduled for 30 November 2023.