Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2016 (96. évfolyam)

2016 / 3. szám - HISTORICAL SNAPSHOT - Juhász Endre - Major Veronika: Sanitation in Hungary

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Hungarian Journal of Hydrology Vol. 96. No. 3. 2016.

same principles for better quality. This practically meant the beginning of nationalization for this area of strategic importance (Fig. 7).

Figure 7. Status of sewerage level at the end of 1948 (Source: ' Gov. Decree 9170/1948)

The gap between provisions of drinking water supply and sanitation started to grow after World War I and continued again from the 1950s. During the development of residential areas in cities and industrial districts, wastewater collection become a requirement, but waste- water treatment could not keep up. Essentially a secondary gap appeared between collected wastewater released into receiving waters only through screen and grit chamber and the amount of wastewater going through biological treatment.

Figure 8. The first activated sludge wastewater treatment plant, South Pest (1965) (Source: Budapest csatornázása: Pest város 1847. évi csatornázási szabályrendeletének 125 éves évfordulójára 1972)

Figure 9. The combined biological devices of the Inotai- Juhász type Balatonlelleplant (1973) (Source: A szennyvíztisztítás története 2011)

Figure 10. Oxidation ditch with Käfig rotor (1966) (Source: A szennyvíztisztítás története 2011)

Biological treatment started in the late 1960s, first only in priority areas (Fig. 8 and 9). Lake Balaton was one of those areas, as it was considered national treasure being a popular destination for tourists. Provision of drinking water supply was a priority here as well, but wastewater treatment plants with biological treatment were built here in a quick succession to protect the water quality of the lake (e.g. Keszthely, Siófok, Balaton l'üred).

Regarding technology, the low load so-called activated sludge comprehensive treatment plant became dominant, where organic matter decomposition and sludge stabilisation took place in the same basin. Oxidation ditches („Pasveer” ditch) required significant amount of land, and were replaced by basin technologies enabling more depth with the spreading of more effective aerators (vertical aerators).

At the same time, the first wastewater treatment plant of Budapest was built, utilising the results of pilot plant experiments, to protect the South Budapest industrial area and the holiday resorts (priority area) of the Soroksári Danube branch. The South Pest Wastewater Treatment Plant was a high load treatment, using activated sludge treatment process, with mesophilic digestion.

There was no education related to wastewater treatment technologies until the mid-1960s in Hungary. This field was represented by foreign engineers and some Hungarian engineers who studied abroad (Berlin, Zürich). The first book was translated by a technical officer (Major József Héthársi (Hauszman)) from German to Hungarian. Later a foreign company’s guideline was released that contained instructions for planning activated sludge process. Géza Öllös was commissioned in 1963 to set up the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation in the Technical University of Budapest, where his main task was laying the groundwork for the new technical field and developing methodology for education.

The Ministries established supporting institutions for their development duties. The former leader of the National Water Authority, Undersecretary Imre Dégen successfully integrated every institutions of the water sector under the National Water Authority (NWA), thus forging one of the ablest organisation in the country. He initiated the foundation - among others - a research institute (VITUKI), which became well-known and respected research centre as well as an engineering design institute (V1ZITERV) for supporting the development goals of the