According to new projects – published in October 2002 – some amount of water to the lake might be supplied by River Zala, transferring the water from the feet of the Alps. This solution would rise the water level of Balaton for longer periods. Because of the missing amount of water the bottom of the lake is getting muddy. Sandbanks, even small islands have appeared. The number of tourist decreased and anglers, fishers have difficulties catching fish.
The average precipitation in the Balaton area is 670 mm/year. In 2 2000 it was 420 mm, in 2001 520 mm, and in 2002 until the end of August only 150 mm altogether. It means about 370 million m3 water is missing.
The lowest water stand was about 40 cm lower than the average, but according to long time data similarly low levels occurred 75 times in the last 100 years and the lake has a kind of self balancing system. But for the sake of stable water some measures have to be applied.
A recent study organized by VITUKI, the research institute for water management, suggest that the waters coming from the slopes of the Alps could be collected and with the help of River Zala – flowing naturally into the Balaton and yielding a big amount of its water – can be directed into the lake.
The study deals with the most important aspects about the feasibility of water supply. Discusses the technical, economical, ecological questions from the point of view of the water management, tourism etc.
Information & Contact:
Balaton Fejlesztési Tanács (Balaton Development Council)
Balatoni Integrációs Kht.
8600 Siófok
Batthyány u. 1.
Phone: +36 84 313 346
Fax: +3606 84 317 002
