Drying Up: The Human Cost of Hungary’s Water Mismanagement

Decades of poor water retention practices have left Hungary woefully unprepared for droughts and heatwaves brought on by climate change. Record-low water levels at Lake Velence paint a stark picture of the country’s worsening water crisis.

For generations, Hungary has prioritized draining its land over allowing natural flooding cycles to occur. Water from fields, wetlands, and soil was channeled away to make room for agriculture and other enterprises. This approach has led to a consistent drop in the water table and the drying out of wetlands and topsoil, with devastating consequences.

Lake Velence, once a popular destination for boating and swimming, is now struggling to stay above water. Árpád Selmeci, a 58-year-old fisherman who’s lived on the lake since childhood, says, “I’ve never seen the water so low.” He’s forced to navigate increasingly difficult waters, a heartbreaking testament to the impact of Hungary’s water mismanagement on its people.

Hungary is among the most drought-exposed countries in Europe, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country’s extensive network of drainage canals – spanning over 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) – serves as a reminder of its history of prioritizing agriculture over conservation.

As the water crisis deepens, with record-low water levels on the Danube threatening to shut down Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, drastic action is needed. The new government has promised to put water management policies “on new footing,” launching a comprehensive water conservation program to mitigate the effects of drought. This will require a fundamental shift in approach – one that prioritizes water retention over drainage.

The cost of this failure will be borne by Hungarians themselves, who are already feeling the pinch of drought-related crop yields and drinking water shortages. Zoltán Mettner, owner of the Glass Tiger bar on the shores of Lake Garancsi, says, “it’s terrible – there’s no other way to put it.” The once-thriving recreational lake is now a shadow of its former self, with most of the former lake bed exposed and cracked.

Other countries are grappling with the impact of climate change on their water resources. Australia, for example, has shown that restoring wetlands and improving water retention can reduce drought-related stress on water systems. Hungary could learn from this model – one that prioritizes the long-term health of its water resources over short-term gains in agriculture or other industries.

As the situation unfolds, it’s clear that Hungary’s current water crisis is not just an environmental issue but also a deeply human one. The people of Lake Velence and beyond are paying the price for decades of neglect – and it’s time for the government to take drastic action to prevent further suffering.