Key facts
- Lake Velence, Hungary's third-largest lake, is experiencing critically low water levels.
- The situation is attributed to prolonged droughts, lack of rainfall, and decades of water mismanagement.
- The water level is nearing its lowest recorded point, with experts predicting it could be reached soon.
- The shrinking lake threatens the local ecosystem and tourism industry.
- Proposed solutions include reservoir renovation, wastewater recycling, and potential water transfers from the Danube River.
Lake Velence, Hungary's third-largest body of water, is facing a severe crisis as its water levels plummet due to prolonged droughts, insufficient rainfall, and decades of inadequate water management. Metal steps leading to the water's edge now rest on sand, meters from the current shoreline.
At the end of May, the lake was reportedly within 10 centimeters of its lowest recorded level, with experts suggesting this threshold could be breached by mid-June. The current water level is only 3 cm above the historic low of 53 cm set in 2022 during an extreme drought. While the lake has dried up in the past, the increasing frequency of water shortages is a significant concern, especially as water levels can drop by 20-25 cm in a single hot month. Without substantial rain, the lake could be as low as 30 cm by summer's end.
The disappearance of the lake is attributed to both climate change and poor water management practices, such as draining wetlands for agricultural use. Evaporation now exceeds the inflow from precipitation, leading to an annual water loss.
The ecological and economic impacts are already being felt. Tourism businesses reliant on water activities like boating and sailing have not opened this season, with some relocating to nearby Lake Balaton. The lake's wildlife is suffering, with reed beds deteriorating and habitats shrinking for waterfowl and fish. Nesting birds and their chicks are also at risk, and warmer, shallower water accelerates algae blooms, degrading water quality.
Past solutions for replenishing Lake Velence, such as channeling water from the Rákhegy karst aquifer in the early 1990s, are no longer feasible due to increased demand for drinking water and reduced reserves. Current proposals include renovating the Zámolyi and Pátkai reservoirs to capture more rainwater, removing sediment, and restricting activities like fishing. Another suggestion involves recycling treated wastewater from local treatment plants, which currently flows out of the watershed. A more ambitious idea is to transfer water from the Danube River, though this would require significant new infrastructure and purification processes to prevent the transfer of hazardous substances or invasive species.
Environmental Minister Laszlo Gajdos recently met with local NGOs, mayors, and water management experts to discuss the lake's future. Experts emphasize that only water replenishment can solve the current state of the lake, but implementation requires careful consideration.