Hungary is grappling with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by prolonged droughts and climate change-driven heat waves, with record-low water levels impacting lakes, rivers, and the nation's agricultural and energy sectors. The country's vulnerability is compounded by a historical practice of draining its natural wetlands, a strategy now exposing the long-term costs of decades of water mismanagement.
Lake Velence, Hungary's third-largest lake, has receded to approximately 20 centimeters (8 inches), significantly below its optimal August level of 150 centimeters (5 feet). This dramatic shrinkage has rendered parts of the lake impassable for fishing boats and forced the closure of popular swimming beaches. Similar conditions are evident at Lake Garancsi, a smaller recreational lake near Budapest, which has shrunk so dramatically that fishing and swimming are no longer possible, with authorities predicting it will be dry by the end of summer.
Across Hungary, drought conditions are widespread, with nearly all of the country experiencing severe or extreme drought. This has damaged crop yields, led to drinking water shortages, and threatened the operation of the nation's sole nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the Danube River for cooling. The Danube itself has experienced record-low water levels this summer, prompting emergency interventions to ensure the Paks nuclear plant can continue operating.
Experts point to Hungary's extensive network of over 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) of drainage canals as a key factor in its current predicament. This system, established over centuries, prioritizes draining land for agriculture and development, rather than allowing natural water retention. A 2023 study in the journal Nature estimated that Hungary has lost more than 80% of its historical wetlands.
"The country has not been a good steward of its waters in the last 200 years," said Zsuzsanna Ujj, a biodiversity policy specialist with Friends of the Earth Hungary. She explained that the emphasis on drainage has led to a consistent drop in the water table and the drying out of topsoil, which in turn reduces local precipitation.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar acknowledged the severity of the crisis in late June, stating that his government would prioritize water management policies and launch a comprehensive conservation program. He noted that aging water infrastructure contributes to significant water loss, with an estimated 20-25% of drinking water leaking from damaged pipes annually. Magyar declared that "water retention will be the basic principle of Hungarian water management."
However, implementing these changes will be a substantial undertaking. Ujj suggested that restoring wetlands and increasing evaporation in certain areas could help mitigate the effects of climate change by boosting local precipitation during drier months. These natural reservoirs are crucial for retaining water during dry spells, a function that has been diminished by past land-use practices.