Vízügyi Közlemények, 2002 (84. évfolyam)

1. füzet - Kozák Miklós: A vízerő-hasznosítás és a lefolyás-szabályozás, mint a fenntartható fejlődés alapjai

A vízerő-hasznosítás és a lefolyás-szabályozás, mint a fenntartható fejlődés alapjai 115 Conclusion of the international conferences of WMO are dramatic when they concern the water resources management of Hungary. Hungarian and international conclusions of water resources management must be made use of if Hungary wishes to formulate the future tasks of water management in a professional way. It is especially true for the Rather closed Carpathian Basin, where the micro-climate depends on the surface coverage of the Basin, and this later on the water surfaces, defined highly by the rivers of the Tisza River Valley (Tisza, the Körös rivers system, the Szamos and the Berettyó rivers). Opinions blaming unjustly the dry-out of the great Hungarian Plain Alföld on the regulation works of the Tisza river are not new ones. The devastating droughts of the 1930-ies also gave rise to similar professional mistakes, blaming the regulation works of the River Tisza for the drought. However, Réthly pointed out in 1936 that this standpoint is harmful to the society "there are always speakers who convert assumptions to convictions....this has, however, an impetus, which may strongly hinder the normal and healthy solution of water resources management tasks and discredit the establishments, which have proved to be very useful and efficient ones." The words of Réthly, written 60 years ago, are also true and relevant today, since similar misbelieves exist also today. The trend-like decrease of precipitation in the Carpathian Basin continues since 1880. In 1880 the annual mean precipitation of the Basin was 675 mm, which has decreased to 550 mm by our times. This means 20% decrease (Figure 3). It was also shown that the average temperature has also been risen in Hungary during the past 110 years (Figure 4.). Data of the Upper Rába river show the same (Figure 5.). Under such conditions the full meeting of water demands can only be secured by water storage. This will be the case, even more so, in the future This means that: without runoff control there is no water storage. Without water storage there is no water resources management, no governing of flows and no water usage in general, v»hile these are the prerequisites of the existence and further development of mankind. Water reservoirs are the treasure-boxes of water management. One of the main reasons of building river dams and reservoirs is to retain runoff volumes, making them available for various water uses, thus complying with water demands. Therefore the analysis and prediction of the processes of precipitation (being the source of water available for storage), water consumption and water utilisation are of decisive importance in securing sustainable development. Water storage allows multiple water uses, among which the drinking water supply, irrigation and power generation are the most important ones, being essential elements of the existence of humanity. Consequently river dams are almost always associated with hydropower utilisation and with the multiple other water uses. Three professional organisations are dealing with the problems of large dams: the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD ), the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and the International Hydropower Association (IHA). The aims of these three organisations are essentially the same: securing prospect, development and human rights, with special regard to river training, runoff control and the supply of water and energy. The management of water and energy resources is important element of sustainable development (or rather the development what one considers to be sustainable). There are serious debates among the professional world organisations (ICOLD, ICID,IHA, IEA) and the environmentalist organisations (such as ICD, WCD, IRN). In Hungary the situation is even more complicated for the following two reasons: a) Misinterpretation of the opinions of international organisations, which are against river dams and b) Spreading of an environmentalist attitude, which is not supported by facts. Summary statements of the author are as follows: — Basic elements of human existence and development (water, air, energy) are at hazard.