The muncipality of Budapest plans to establish the collecting mains of Buda parallel to the widening of the quay along the Buda side of the river, the Middle-Danube Regional Environmental Inspectorate, however, declined to accept the preliminary environmental impact study of the would-be collecting mains. In their opinion, the assessment was not broad enough in that the option to establish a separate system. Further, the question whether the river bed would cause the system undermined at places where it gets narrower at certain bridges and supporting pillars was left unanswered. The Inspectorate considered the assessment of a would-be separated system necessary, because it deems unjustifiable that all the rainwater from this catchments area should be conveyed into a purification plant, because it will increase the amount of water that needs purification to a considerable extent. Naturally, a separated system may not be established overnight, but the option to establish one in the future should be considered anyhow lest the quay is to be rebuilt if the construction gets the green light anyway. The two systems differ substantially in terms of finances required for their respective establishment, also, the collective mains costing HUF 6 billion (USD 21.4 million). In contrast, separation, meaning a system in Buda separating rainwater from other sewage waters would cost an amount between HUF 200 and 300 billion (USD 714-1071 million).
The experts of the metropolitan council mentioned the example of Vienna where all the rainwater and communal water is collected in the drainage system for their eventual cleaning in the purification plants. Expensive though this solution is, yet still cheaper than the establishment of a dual drainage network. Source: Municipality of Budapest
Information & Contact:
Municipality of Budapest
Pál Vajda, Deputy Mayor
Károly krt. 28.
H-1051 Budapest
Phone: +36 1 327-10-00
