Blue infrastructure development project in Pomaz reaches its target

The Municipality of Pomáz City has won a non-refundable grant of HUF 272.66 million from the EU and state TOP Plusz framework, which was used to start a development project of great significance for the city in the agglomeration of the capital. By March 2025, the integrated water management system of Pomaz, including its stormwater management system, had been improved, its environmental safety had been increased and its environmental status had been improved. The lives of almost 1,000 local citizens living in 388 households in Pomaz have been made safer, and the total value of the infrastructure protected from water damage is HUF 11.7 billion, according to a press release sent to this newspaper.

As they explain, the project involved the construction of a total of 940 metres of stormwater drainage infrastructure in the area of Radnóti Street and Goethe Street on Messelia Hill, with the creation of a river channel, a seepage cleaning manhole and a sediment trap. The investment, worth HUF 355 million, includes a contribution of around HUF 80 million from the municipality.

Speaking at the closing press event of the project, Mayor István Leidinger said that the construction of the stormwater drainage system is an ungrateful investment."It is, one could say, an abomination, because people do not see the immediate benefits and have to put up with the inconvenience of broken streets for months. Later, when the system is up and running, they are relieved to know that their basements and yards are not flooded during heavy rainfall and that they can walk on the streets when it rains."

He said that due to climate change, Pomaz is increasingly experiencing heavy rainfall in a short period of time on the streets of Messelia Hill, which causes enormous damage."It washed away the dirt roads, tore up the asphalt, flooded the houses, it was difficult to drive on the streets even in rubber boots"

- described the situation before the development.

As he explained, in the past, stormwater drainage systems were built to drain water as quickly as possible into the receiving stream. "We can't do that today because, also because of climate change, we have long periods of drought in the summer with big heat waves, so we have to retain rainwater and drain it into the ground. The system that has been built is suitable for this, and also for gradually releasing water from the 138 cubic metre reservoir - avoiding overloading the receiving stream. With this stormwater drainage system, we are also improving the condition of our environment", he concluded.

Blue infrastructure development reduces water damage and benefits the environment at the same time

The projects have led to a significant increase of 600 square metres of biologically active green and water surface in Pomaz. In addition, the amount of rainfall recycled locally has increased to 215 000 cubic metres per year.

Rain gardens have been created in the Pomaz neighbourhood to retain rainwater. Flooding in this way has several benefits: water not only flows through the area, but can seep into the soil, which acts as a natural filter (together with planted vegetation) to clean the rainwater, which can then be returned to the receiving watercourse in a better quality. In addition, compared to traditional lawns, rain gardens can release 30 percent more water into the soil.