Hidrológiai Közlöny 1977 (57. évfolyam)

1. szám - Dr. Illés György: A HUN/PIP 001 Project jelentősége a magyar vízgazdálkodásban

2 Hidrológiai Közlöny 1977. 1. sz. Dr. Illés György: A HUN/PIP 001 Project In the interest of protecting the quality of water resources an effective engineering-, legal-, jurisdictional-, administrative- and organizational control system has been established by the water agencies. This has included the network of laboratories at the 12 district water 'authorities, the supervisory organization thereof and the central water quality inspectorate. By their combined activities the quality of waters is checked regularly at over 300 points. (The data obtained in this way have opened the possibility of developing advanced water quality control systems along some heavily polluted streams of special importance. Owing to the growing rate of pollution, but also to the appearance of new effluents of unpredictable composition, increasing difficulties and new engineering problems have been encountered in the treatment and disposal of the waste waters. Particularly grave problems and heavy costs in wastewater treatment result in Hungary from the development of the chemical industry. The polluting effect due to the introduction of industrialized methods in agriculture is also of considerable proportions. The network of settlements keeps expanding at rapid rates and ever increasing water volumes are needed in industry. Under the combined impact thereof the present effluent volume of 1.2 thousand million cu.m/year is expected to double by 1985. Greater efforts are therefore essential for the protection of waters and of the aquatic environment, relying not only on past experiences, but by introducing new, even more advanced methods, among which international cooperation plays an important role. In 1971 the programs of water quality control were elaborated by the water agencies for two pilot zones, with the objective of abating the growing pollution in a complex, coordinated manner based on the experiences of a pollution control model system to be developed. For this work 110 million Ft have been envisaged by the Hungarian water management agencies. Under an agreement reached by the Hungarian government, the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the world organization has contributed almost 1 million US dollars to this important project between 1972 and 1976. The aim of the work started in 1972 on the pilot zones designated along the Hungarian upper section of the Danube and in the valley of the Sajó River was to develop a complex system of water quality control. The first phase consisted of the collection of the large data volumes needed for planning, further of the computerized processing of the data collected. One of the current grave problems, the removal of micro pollutants has also been included among the project objectives. The determination of the allowable pollution load on the streams affected, the study of new, advanced treatment technologies and last, but not least the evaluation of economic and legal controls formed important parts of this ambitious program. Through the World Health Organization the UN has contributed special instruments valued at almost 400 000 US dollars to these works. So far 41 foreign experts recognized in waste water treatment and pollution control practice have participated in the implementation of the program. Under the Project more than 100 Hungarian experts were given opportunity to study foreign methods and experiences. The primary objective of the pollution control model representing technico-economic optima for the Sajó River and the Danube section mentioned before is to produce results of potential applicability in other parts of the country as well. The practical results of the 5 years of research and experimental work in Hungary will be used by the World Health Organization also to the benefit of other countries. Experts of the UN Development Program and of the World Health Organization, together with their Hungarian counterparts have reviewed the results attained during 5 years of work. The general conclusion of the experts was that a number of interesting results have already been obtained, which after completion will contribute greatly to the more effective aversion of environmental damages. Pollution control implies not only the proper treatment of effluents, but also a long chain of measures in the catchment area, the first links of which include rational interplant water management within the industrial plants, the reclamation of valuable substances from wastewaters and local effluent treatment, the terminal steps consisting of the construction of wastewater treatment facilities, further of the harmless disposal of treated effluents in the natural environment. Along with these measures consideration should be given — under suitable conditions — to increasing the supplies available in the catchment, or to periodic storage of effluents. These measures are also suited to helping the natural surface water bodies to assimilate with no, or the least possible detriment the treated effluents discharged into them and at times when their assimilating capacity is the greatest. The coordination of tasks and the optimization of the complex solutions is likely to result in the greatest benefits to the national economy. The efforts made so far have brought initial results, which form the sound foundations for the solution of future problems. These, however, call for even greater efforts, the avenues of further improvement have been opened. The reputation of Hungarian water engineering, the traditions of which reach back far into our history, is expected to become further improved by the sound solution of the new problems raised by modern times.