Guide - Groundwaters in Hungary

INTRODUCTION

Groundwaters are representing outstanding natural resources in Hungary. More than 95 per cent of drinking water is supplied from groundwaters. Springs and wells are filling up the swimming pools in the numerous thermal and medicinal baths. Groundwaters are being utilized in the industry and in irrigation as well however to a lesser extent and no extension is justified. Nevertheless the significance of groundwaters is high from the point of view of the natural vegetation and agriculture as well: for the optimal water supply of vegetation groundwater at the proper depth is required. There are several areas important with a view to nature conservation where the wetness migrating upwards from the deeper horizons is providing the sine qua non for special ecosystems. Also captured or non-captured natural springs may represent special natural value. Water from below the ground surface through the springs and flowing onward or infiltrating into the riverbeds is assuring that several small watercourses do not dry up in seasons without precipitation.

Climate changes, human interventions, overuse of the resources and the various pollution sources are causing several problems in groundwater management and in the protection thereof. Groundwaters are possessed by the state in Hungary; therefore basically the state is responsible for the solution of the problems. However also the municipalities responsible for water supply, the water users, the polluters and after all the individual citizens all have their tasks in the preservation of groundwater resources in good quantitative and qualitative status.

Groundwater shall be protected not only in itself but also in the system of the other elements of the environment. From this point of view the protection of the geological media ¹ , especially that of the topsoil is of outstanding importance. The Hungarian legislation takes this into account eminently from international point of view as well.

The manifold utilization of freshwater resources and among them that of groundwater without deteriorating their good state is one of the worldwide accepted objectives of sustainable development and is recommended by international organizations. The Water Framework Directive of the European Union confirms this approach as well. The Hungarian water and environmental legislation are regulating the utilization and protection of groundwaters also in this spirit.

The national environmental, water, public health and educational organizations, the local governments, researchers, consultants, operators being responsible for groundwaters, furthermore the individual citizens - each in its domain - participating in a uniform approach in the utilization and protection of groundwater resources in conformity with the environmental objectives and public welfare are requiring the proper information. The objective of the present publication is to yield a general picture on groundwaters in Hungary, on the possibilities of their utilization and protection, on the relevant legal regulations, on the organizations dealing with groundwater, on the information available and their accessibility.

¹ geological medium/media: The terrain surface and the subsurface layers (the soil, rocks, including the minerals, the natural and transitional forms thereof);