Víztükör, 1993 (33. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1993-10-01 / 10. szám
JUBILY Municipial Water Works is 125 years old The beginnings of the modern, institutional water supply in the territory of our capital, and at the same time the beginning of the history of the water works is taken to be the time of the contruction of the so-called "Provisory Pest Water Works" in the Hajóhivatal square, now occupied by the northern wing of the Parliament. The city magistrate gave an assignment to an English European reicnowued, engineer of William Lindley, to make the plans for the water works and to take carry out the technical direction of its execution. The construction was started early 1868 and the pump station with the first well started operation in December 1868. Since the management and operation of the water works required an increasing organization, a "water pipeline manager” was appointed in 1872, in the person of János Wein. After the administrative merger of Buda, Pest and Óbuda in 1873 it was his task to find a final solution of substituting the provisory water works with permanent establishments. Wein was convinced that water was to be filtered naturally. Shore filtering galleries - horizontal collecting pipes - were constructed on the basis of his conception, along the Danube shore in Pest, at the place which is today the Kossuth Lajos square and north of the Margaret bridge, as well as in Óbuda, on the Budaujlak shore. The "Budaujlak water works”, constructed by Wein, together with the relevant pressure zones determined already by 1881 the water supply system of the hilly Buda side, for the coming century. Wein struggled hard and adamantly for the construction of the "final" water works in Pest, based on shore filtering, alongside the Danube by Káposztásmegyer - a site specifically charen by him. The construction of the Káposztásmegyer water work was started in 1893, 100 years ago, based on the plans of János Wein. It was completed by 1904 with the amendments incoporated Mihály Kajlinger, the second water works manager. The socalled Káposztásmegyer main site was the most up-to-date establishment of its kind in Europe by the turn of the century. At the beginning of the centry the water supply was still adequate but the demand of the capital surpassed the capacity by the middle of the 1910s. The envisaged developments were however thwarted by the first world war. Substantial work could only by commenced in 1927 (transition from steam to electricity) and the extensions only in 1930. The second world war again disrupted the development schemes, the cruel bombing attacks and the siege of Budapest did not spare the water works either. The damage and the reduction im service capacity could 1947. only be eliminated in. Greater Budapest was created in 1950 by integration of some neighbouring villages and towns. The Municipial water works could hardly cope with the substantially increased requirements. By the end of the Fifties water shortages on several spots of the city became a constant situation. A development Started again in the Sixties and Seventies that can be compared only to that of the last centuries. The company made good use at the new possibilities by the construction of new wells, water works engine houses, management centres, and cleaning Stations. Today the municipial water works ensures adequate drinking water, in suitable quantities not only for more than 2 million inhabitans of Budapest as well as the several institutes and industries; but in addition for some 150.000 persons in 20 settlements of various character in the agglomeration zone around the city. With always the aim of preserving drinking water, in mind the water works provide usable water in certain industrial Zones as required. These activities are carried aut by the water works through some 2800 workers, amongst which 600 employees and 2200 Labourers. Today the municipial water works operate 857 wells of various types and a surface station a for cleaning water, from the Danube. 98,0% of the wells use shore filtering. They are installed from the northern cap of the Szentendre island to the region of Ráckeve on the Csepel island - ashore line of some 90 km. The surface cleaning works are as a matter of fact peak water works. They operate only, in case of constant low water level, has a result of wohich the yield of the shore-filtered wells is reduced nd the missing water quantity has to be compensated for. The to main bases for the production of naturally filtered water: — Szentendre island with an area of 56 km2 where the water works have been installing wells since the turn of the century and which is an excellent area, because of on its natural features- Csepel island with an area of 256 km2, partly wedged in the southern region of the capital, where the water works started to build wells in 1949, but here the fatures are not as advantageous. The water produced on the island passes via low pressure lines and in some places via tunnels under the Danuba to reach the large culverts, that is, Káposztásmegyer and Békásmegyer in the north and Csepel in the south. These forward the water by main presure systems toward engine houses and reservoirs of various pressure zones, so that these can deliver the water to the consumers through the main and distributing networks and house connections. There are other units of smaller capacity on the left side of the Danube, north of Káposztásmegyer, on the Maregaret island, under the quay between Kossuth Lajos square and St Stephen’s Park as well as alongside the Szilas and Rákos brooks. A part ot these units deliver water directly to the network. The water works operate presently 4282,2 km drinking water network in Budapest and 59,3 km in the agglomeration, with some 50.000 fittings and with nearly 190.000 consumer connections. 427 km of this network 427 km are older than 70 years, and about 30% of the entire network is amortised to be nil. We still have operating pipe stages, laid in 1869. The length of the usable water network amounts to 68,4 km. The 62 reservoirs and water towers in the capital operating in various pressure Zones. To ensure-continuous suplly Their total volume is hardly more than 306.000 m3 or 24 % of the peak consumption. The technical development of the last century can be noticed in the water works. We still have 110 year old galleries in operation, shaft wells of 90 years old, 50 year old driven wells, modern tap wells and an ozone technology treatment establishment on the Csepel island which is quite up-to-date even by world standard - it deferritizes and de-manganizes the water of the local wells. The engine-houses embracing both old looking and new ones have the latest mechanical and telecommunication equipments. Some characteristic production and consumption data from 1992: produced water: 341 587 000 m our at which cleaned waters: 25 513 000 m produced industrial water: 10 884 000 m3 max. daily drinking water production: 1 237 000 m3 sold drinking water: 285 756 000 m3 our of the percentage of that of the population: 61 % The percentege of that of industry and public sector: 39% Today the drinking water in Budapest still complies with the most stringent specifications. It is considered a one of the best in Europe. This can be attributed to our predecessors and those living in Budapest and the Szentendre and Csepel islands who protect and up till now have Successfully spared the water sources, and water production areas succesfully. The municipial water works, proven by its history, have held out at all times and ensured healthy drinkjing water for the population of the capital. The water works will provide this service to the best of its ability and with the best intentions in the future as well. Pál Cséry director 7
