Long-term sustainability of drinking water supply in Hungary at risk, according to State Audit Office report

The State Audit Office of Hungary (ÁSZ) has released a report on the long-term sustainability of drinking water supply in Hungary. The report found that while the sector’s strategies are in line with international drinking water supply goals and EU objectives, there is a risk that drinking water supply in its current form will not be sustainable in the long term.

Drinking water quality and quantity

During the period under review (2017-2022), healthy, safe drinking water was available in sufficient quantity and quality in Hungary. The report notes that the number of cases where water quality did not meet the standards decreased between 2017 and 2022. Thanks to the drinking water quality improvement program, the risk of primary water base contamination (characterized by arsenic, boron, fluoride, and ammonium parameters) has decreased or disappeared.

However, according to the latest data, in 2022, inorganic arsenic was present in drinking water at a concentration higher than the permitted level in several settlements in the southeastern part of the country.

Challenges to long-term sustainability

The report identifies a number of challenges that pose a risk to the long-term sustainability of drinking water supply:

• Fragmented institutional system: The institutional system is fragmented, and an integrated approach to planning and implementation of specific tasks is not sufficiently applied.
• Lack of coordination and IT support: The implementation of strategic goals is hindered by the lack of comprehensive coordination and IT support for decision-making processes.
• Increasing secondary water quality contamination: The proportion of secondary water quality contamination (contamination caused by aging systems and technical and technological problems in water treatment) has increased.
• Significant water loss: A quarter of the water produced was lost due to public water losses, which the report estimates at over HUF 17 billion per year. This amount of water loss would fill 8.8% of Lake Balaton.
• Deteriorating financial situation of water utilities: The operating and business results of water utilities gradually deteriorated between 2017 and 2022. Their revenues decreased due to state price caps, while their expenditures increased significantly.

Recommendations

The report makes a number of recommendations to address the challenges identified, including:

• Strengthening the coordination of the water management sector: Establishing a single, responsible entity for water management, with the necessary financial and human resources.
• Increasing investment in infrastructure: Increasing investment in the reconstruction and modernization of water supply and wastewater treatment systems.
• Promoting water conservation: Raising public awareness of the importance of water conservation and introducing measures to encourage water-saving practices.
• Reviewing the water pricing system: Reviewing the water pricing system to ensure that it is cost-covering and provides incentives for water conservation.

The report concludes that the long-term sustainability of drinking water supply in Hungary can only be ensured by addressing the challenges identified and implementing the recommended measures.

Additional Information

• State Audit Office of Hungary website: https://www.asz.hu/
• Report on the long-term sustainability of drinking water supply in Hungary: https://www.asz.hu/dokumentumok/24004.pdf