Hungarian Water Sector Expertise for Water Resilience in the Danube Region
Dr. Károly Kovács, President of the Hungarian Water Partnership and President of Hungarian Water Association, participated as a speaker at the 2026 Danube Water Forum, held in Sofia on 20–22 May. The central theme of the international professional event was strengthening water resilience in the Danube region under the title “From Vision to Action: Building a Water-Resilient Danube Region.”
The forum brought together key stakeholders, decision-makers, utilities, professional organisations and technology partners from the Danube region’s water sector to jointly address challenges related to water security, infrastructure sustainability and climate adaptation.
Representing the Hungarian Water Partnership, Dr. Károly Kovács contributed to the programme with two key professional topics. In his presentation, “Managing sewage sludge and wastewater treatment from a country perspective – the case of Hungary,” he shared Hungarian experiences and insights related to wastewater sludge management. He also contributed to the discussion with a Poster presentation on selecting the least-cost solution for arsenic removal, focusing on the regulatory and practical principles of water infrastructure financing and development, demonstrating the advantages and the necessity of Life Cycle cost based option analyses through the case study of an arsenic removal infrastructure project.
The professional focus of the forum was closely aligned with the mission of the Hungarian Water Partnership:
To support the development and international application of
sustainable,
cost-effective
and locally adapted water solutions that contribute to safe drinking water supply, efficient wastewater treatment and the protection of water resources.
The financial and long-term sustainability challenges of the Hungarian water utility sector were also addressed during the conference. In his presentation and panel discussions, Dr. Kovács highlighted key issues related to economies of scale in wastewater treatment and drinking water management, as well as the importance of life-cycle cost-based option analysis in the preparation of EU-funded projects. He emphasised that affordable yet cost-effective operation is one of the key conditions for the long-term sustainability of the water utility sector.
One of the most notable findings presented, based on a World Bank study and survey, concerned water tariffs in Hungary. According to the analysis, Hungary has the lowest average water tariffs in the region. Between 2014 and 2024, the share of water tariffs relative to average income decreased from around 1% to 0.7–0.8%. A similar decrease was observed only in Romania, where it was primarily explained by significant income growth.
Commenting on these findings, Dr. Károly Kovács said:
“Hungary’s position at the lower end of the regional ranking is thought-provoking. It raises the question of whether such a low level of water tariffs can be sustained in the medium term, or even in the short term, particularly from the perspective of infrastructure maintenance, development and water resource management.”
The countries of the Danube region are closely interconnected from a water management perspective. Dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation with neighbouring countries therefore play a key role in strengthening regional water security. The Danube Water Forum provided an important platform for this cooperation, bringing together utilities, professional associations, decision-makers and technology providers across the region.
Professional discussions at the forum confirmed that there is significant demand in the Danube region, including the Western Balkans, for practical, affordable and life-cycle cost-based water sector solutions. This represents an important opportunity for the Hungarian Water Partnership to contribute Hungarian water expertise, technologies and engineering experience to regional and international water sector development.
