Seven professional organisations representing Hungary’s entire water sector have set out, in a joint position paper, the principles along which Hungarian water management should be renewed. Among the signatories of the statement, adopted on 8 October, is Zsolt Eszes, head of Inwatech Kft., a member of the Hungarian Water Utility Association (MaVíz).
The statement follows Government Resolution 1265/2026 of 25 August, which aims to align the regulation of water use with available water resources and climate change projections, with the involvement of professional organisations and civil society. In response, the signatories defined the common professional minimum they agree on, despite their different focus and remit.
Eight principles for the future of water management
1. Water resources must become resilient, and water demand adaptable, to the effects of climate change
Protecting the quantity and quality of water, retaining it, and reliably meeting the different demands on it cannot be handled separately: the statement calls for an integrated approach.
2. Ageing water utility infrastructure must be renewed
Preserving the condition and value of existing systems requires predictable, long-term rehabilitation programmes. According to the organisations, development planning can build on the asset valuations and rolling development plans already in place, supplemented where needed.
3. Separate systems must be connected so they can support one another
Regional and municipal water management cannot be developed in isolation. Connected systems are more adaptable and more secure; bringing local public water facilities back into use and community-led, small-scale water retention serve the same goal.
4. Water must be collected and stored more effectively in the landscape and in towns
Balancing water across space and time — through local retention, nature-based solutions, more storage capacity, local use of rainwater and water distribution systems — is the basis of future water management. From a wastewater treatment perspective, it is worth noting that the statement suggests classifying urban stormwater drainage as a public utility service, partly because of the heavy load it places on treatment plants.
5. Whatever can be reused should be used more than once
Regulation and economic incentives should steer users towards economical, efficient and circular water use and the wide use of alternative water resources.
6. Water has value: resources and uses must be measured, understood and explained
In critical situations, good decisions depend on accurate measurement and reliable data. There is no such thing as free water: its value and service cost must be set predictably and fairly, and tariffs should encourage sensible water use. The statement suggests examining:
- progressive water tariffs;
- a uniform national water utility tariff, including for households;
- restructuring sewerage charges to account for stormwater from sealed surfaces;
- turning the current availability charge into a rehabilitation fee, ring-fenced for renewing existing systems;
- more differentiated water resource charges;
- phasing out free water supply for agriculture.
7. Water users must be educated and encouraged to use water responsibly
Sustainable water management cannot rely on investment alone: raising water awareness among the public and businesses, and encouraging economical use, matters just as much.
8. Professional foundations must be strengthened further
Meeting the new challenges of climate change requires stronger water management research and university education in Hungary, and design standards and technical guidelines that are regularly reviewed.
Joint professional action
The principles are a starting point. The organisations have undertaken to develop further concrete proposals reflecting the specifics of regional and municipal water management and the related engineering and scientific fields, and are ready to maintain an ongoing dialogue with policymakers.
Signatories
The statement was adopted by representatives of the Hungarian Hydrological Society, the Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering Section of the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers, the Hungarian Water Utility Association (MaVíz), the Hungarian Water and Wastewater Association (MaSzeSz), the Global Water Partnership Hungary Foundation, the National Association of Water Management Societies, and the Water Supply and Sewerage Subcommittee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Download the statement
The signatory organisations are sharing the statement through their own channels, so that it reaches the professional community and the public as well as decision-makers. The original documents are in Hungarian.
The statement in full (Hungarian)
Information note on the statement (Hungarian)