Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2017 (97. évfolyam)

2017 / 3. szám - MANAGING WATER QUALITY (ONGOING PROJECTS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES) - Novak, Vladimír - Láng István: Co-operation between the Slovak Republic and Hungary in the hydrology of transboundary waters

Vladimír Novák and István Láng: Co-operation between the Slovak Republic and Hungary in the Hydrology of Transboundary Waters

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EVALUATION OF THE WORK OF REGIONAL WORKING GROUPS

The evaluation of the work of Regional Working Groups constitutes an important task of the expert group for hydrology. The Regional Working Group for the West deals with hydrological issues of the common boundary section of the River Danube, and the Regional Working Group for the East deals with hydrological issues of the common boundary section of the River Ipel’ /Ipoly and the boundary profiles of the Rivers Slaná / Sajó, Homád / Hernád, Bodva, and Bodrog. Hydrometry during the flood in June 2013 and the evaluation and approval of peak flows are considered the most important parts of this activity. It was the biggest flood on the River Danube in the section Devin - Stúrovo since the year 1899.

In the area of hydrometry, joint hydrometry measurements using ADCP ultrasonic instruments for the purpose of the calibration of the instruments represented an important step. The measurements were carried out at Balassagyarmat in June 2015 and at Salka in June 2016. Based on these control measurements, the Hungarian Party worked out a detailed certificate for the confirmation of calibration of RiverRay, RiverSurveyor, and StreamPro instruments and sent it to the Slovak Party. The joint working group approves the results of joint hydrometry measurements on the boundary rivers, as well as the plan of measurements for the next year in accordance with the national Monitoring Plans.

Regarding the growing problems caused by climate change, the importance of cross-border cooperation in water protection and management with the neighbouring countries increases; the area of hydrology is a key aspect of cooperation. The long-term bilateral cooperation on the transboundary waters between the Slovak Republic and Hungary creates a good basis for overcoming problems and challenges expected in connection with recorded changes in natural cycles.

THE AUTHORS

VALDIMIR NOVAK graduated from the Slovak University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering. He has had a lot of experience with state administration, namely with the Ministry of Environment. During previous years at the Ministry of Environment, he focused on international cooperation in the field of integrated water management, flood protection and water ways transport. Presently, he is the Director General of the Water Section and EU Water Director of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Governmental Plenipotentiary for bilateral cooperation on transboundary water with all neighbouring countries.

ISTVÁN LANG graduated from the Budapest Technical University as a civil engineer specializing in water engineering. After graduation, he worked in the field of water management as an investor, contractor and operator for over 10 years. Then he started to work for the water public administration mainly on flood protection issues and became head of department within the Ministry responsible for water management. Since 2012, he has been the chief engineer at the General Directorate of Water Management of Hungary and also the head of the national organization for water damage mitigation. Regarding the Slovakian transboundary water relations, he is the Hungarian Governmental Plenipotentiary.