Vízügyi Közlemények, 1962 (44. évfolyam)

4. füzet - IX. Könyvismertetés

(75)* the necessity of its development, while observing both the overall consequences on nature and the national economy, as well as long range economic evolution. The scientific-technical progress taking place in these days can be characterized by three closely interrelated features : The first of these is the fact that technical progress does not depend any more on ideas and inventions resulting from sudden inspiration, but relies rather on scientific research work conducted systematically with a preset goal in mind. The second is the ever closer relation between science and practice, while the third is that social transformation created favourable conditions for scientific development and in doing so accelerated the rate thereof. The import of these considerations on scientific water economy research is that the prerequisite for its truly successful work is the knowledge of the multi-variable relationships of not only natural but social evolution as well. Scientific water economy research is controlled in Hungary to an increasing extent by these new features, but the results were not attained suddenly, automatically without a historical background. A detailed description is given here of the history of water economy research in Hungary, of the systematical hydrographie works carried out since 75 years, and of the initiation of organized water economy research. The work of Danube mapping performed at the middle of the last century (from 1825 to 1835) surveys of the rivers of the country, the discharge measurements of P. Vásárhelyi (1795 to 1846), the excellent engineer and founder of water economy research in Hungary, the commencement of regular stage observations, the preparation of the first river training programs, are all evidences of the activity and achievments of early hydrographie work almost one and one half centuries ago. The work of Hungarian predecessors J. Kvassay, J. Péch and others is remembered with deep appreciation, and publications of major importance, the periodical "Hydraulic Engineering", first issued 83 years ago, the "Hydrographie Yearbooks", the "Tisza river in the past and present", etc., the first scale model test performed in 1908, the first model laboratory founded in 1925, at the Technical University, Budapest, are mentioned together with the Research Institute for Water Resources, founded in 1952 as a result of development accompanying the social transformation which followed in the wake of World War II. The first task of this institute was the development of hydrographie work on a broader basis, in the course of which research had to be extended to all factor of water regime by a more intensive hydrometric work. The evaluation of observation material resulted in a detailed survey of the surface water resources of thecountry. Significant progress was made also in the determination of subsurface water resources, although further important and urgent studies of both Geological and Hydrological character are necessary before the ground and karstic water resources, and thus the total underground resources of the country can be determined. The Hydraulic Laboratory of the Institute was built in 1955, the foundations for research into water quality and Sewage purifications have been laid outstanding results have been achieved in the fields of hydrological forecasting, of applied research, especially flood protection, surface drainage and irrigation development as well as by the control measurements on major hydraulic structures. In the future, additional possibilities must be explored, on the one hand by improving our knowledge on existing resources, on the other by the correct distribution thereof, in order to meet the continuous and growing demand. Economical methods must be developed for the repeated reuse of water. Further important tasks of water economy arc the improvement of sewage purification techniques, the development of beneficial utilization of otherwise harmful excess surface waters, the study of possibilities for underground storage, the solution of hydrological and soil hydrological problems relating to irrigation development, the development of research into hydraulic construction, economical studies in connection with water and last, but not least the development of documentation of literature on hydraulics. Water economy research is being conducted, besides the above Institute, by other organizations as well, all included in the long-range national research plan. Decentralization of research must further be solved among the various District