Víztükör, 1993 (33. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1993-10-01 / 10. szám

Determining role of the water utility companies in the development of the public utility water supply and canalization

The water utility companies (water works and canalization) have been operating since 1958. Their importance is, that the interested local parties, primarily on the basis of the decision of the population and with their considerable financial contribution (interest contribution) may obtain water utility services earlier compared with the one constructed excusively by state and self-government financing. Thus the water utility companies took over the tasks of the state, for more than three decades. The self-government act entrusting the task of water supply and canalisation (sewage water cleaning) to the salf goverment that came into force (1991) has since its introduction helped a quicker implementation.

1. The importance of the water utility companies

Before we present the results of the water utility companies it is appropriate to look back to the period prior to the organization of these associations (1957) and to an insight to the earlier, very low standard situation of the pipeline water supply and canalization:

Till the end of the Fifties the construction and development of the water utility work were the most neglected area of the water management. Cities and villages did not receive ony considerable state support for building of water works, their own financial resources were far from being sufficient to build such expensive constructions.

By the turn of the century only 10% of the population enjoyed supply from watermains. This ratio was increased to 35% by the end of 1960, with 18% of public canalization - unheard of at the time of the turn of the century.

It is mainly as a result of the organization and efficient operation of the water utility companies that the construction of the water utility works - mostly water works - have been accelerated in our settlements beginning from 1957. Especially during the past two decades we witnessed such a dynamic development that can justly be called the historic age of the Hungarian water supply and canalization.

Now it can clearly be proved that the water utility companies have considerably contributed to the fact that 94% of the population (9,8 million persons) enjoyed pipeline water and 55% (5,7 million persons) public canalization by the end of 1992. (The percentange of inhabitants in the canalized area is: 45%).

2. Results of the water utility companies (1958-92)

The evaluation of the activities of the water utilities companies - without going into details - can be summarized as follows:

During the period between 1958 and 1992 - within 35 years - the associations constructed new water works in 2147 settlements and canalization works in 159 settlements. Through the almost 27000 km network constructed with te ssociation’s investment some 3,7 million persons (permanent inhabitants) obtained pipelined water supply. It is to be considered as a modest but still important result that during this time the associations invested in the construction of nearly 2000 km sewage water canals too: mostly in settlements developing into towns, in smaller country towns and in the globally important holidaymaking zone (lakeside settlements by the Balaton, around the Velence Lake, in the Danube Bend) and in several large villages.

It can categorically be stated that: it is primarily due to the water utility companies that the share of the population in the villages increased from the 9% in 1965 to 86% till the end of 1992, and it is expected that the pipe

water supply programm will be completed in settlement of each county by 1995. Naturally in line with the self-government Act healthy drinking water is to be supplied for permanent inhabitans of every village, by the end of 1994. Further more, it is to be considered as a substantial achievement that in 2/3 of our cities both water and canalization works were constructed by these associations.

That some 85-90% of the water utility investments were realized in the villages favourable for the dynamic development of the smaller settlements (villages).

The positive attitude of the interested local parties is confirmed by that fact that despite to the continuously increasing difficulties (e.g. increase of investment cost, reduction in the burden bearing capacity of the population) they still assumed these increased burdens. It can be taken as a national example that 52% of the water utility investments were paid directly by the interested local parties - firstly by the population.

Evaluating the results of the past two years (1991-92) we can say that the local self-governments in nearly all counties, appreciated the importance and actual advantages of the waster utility companies as compared with the voluntarily organized associations, especially in solving the sewage water canalization tasks.

Presently too, the importance of the role of the water utility companies is proven, among others, by the fact that in 1992 these companies spent a total sum of 4,8 billion Ft investments on water utility on national scale. 57% of the invested sum (2,75 billion Ft) were spent on canalization (sewage water cleaning). It is to be remarked that in 1993 - despite existing poroblems and difficulties - we can still reckon with the implementation of company investments up to the value of some 4,0-4,5 million Ft on national scale.

3. Summary

In 1992 the water utility company movement became 35 years old and this ended a "historical period" very rich in achievements. (The year 1993 can be considered as the beginning of a new period.)

Summarizing ad analysing the results of the past three and half decades we can say that the water utility companies have been very successful in the dynamic development of the water utility program. The company results clearly prove that the water utility companies played a decisive role in the struggle of many decades to ensure healthy drinking water for the population. During the past 35 years 63% of the permanent inhabitans- 3,7 million persons - obtained pipe water lines via the companies.

It is further an important result, that - even though at a moderate pace- the canalization program was able to commence in several villages and towns as well as in the holidaymaking zone.

The organizations (water utility and water companies) adapt themselves flexibly to the expectations raised towards the water management Companies. They endeavour to operate successfully also in the period of the social and economic changes, like the present situation, they try to give considerable help to the self-governments in the implementation of their tasks, not withstanding the - economc problems that often create great strain.

The newly emerging tasks of canalization (only a few % of the village people live in canalized areas) instigate the water utility companies to further highly responsible performance.

The implementation of the tasks imposed on the already operating and canalization works to be formed, however, requiers the comprehensive endeavours and cooperation of all concerned both local and a and regional organizations, and a more efficient support by the local self-governments and the competent national authorities and ministries.

о» Dr József Koltai head counsellor, deputy secretary of the national federation of the companies

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