Construction of water management decision support monitoring system towards sustainable development in the Bükk area (VIMORE)

There are many unique and famous tourist attractions in the Bükk Mountains like caves, springs, Szalajka waterfall in Szilvásvárad, Hámori Lake near Lillafüred, Turkish bath in Eger, Thermal Cave Spa in Miskolctapolca, the splendid travertine mound next to Egerszalók, and so on. They have something in common; their existence is dependent on karst water. A less known fact that 90% of the water supply of Eger, Miskolc and surrounding settlements originates from karst water. There are some periods, mainly in summer, when less precipitation results in the dropping of available water amount that is not sufficient for both ecological and social supplies. Therefore foreseeing and well established water management plans are needed for right decision making. The base of a proper water management plan is the appropriate knowledge of the area and continuous observation of the changes of karst water conditions.

In the course of the project “Construction of water management decision support monitoring system towards sustainable development in the Bükk area (VIMORE)” we investigated the karst water system of the Bükk Mountains considering water management aspects. Besides the existing karst water quantity monitoring system (wells, karst springs) a new meteorological station was established with automatic precipitation, air and soil temperature meter and register and new measuring points were formed in the cave system in order to observe changes of the karst water level.

Expedition yield measurements were carried out on the karst springs and creeks two times; the total concurrent karst water recharge, industrial, drinking and thermal water demands were estimated. Towards sustainable karst water utilization and based on the EU Water Framework Directive the project investigated the ecological water demand as well. Based on the above mentioned data and results new monitoring objects were proposed, decision supporting data base and GIS database were constructed.

SMARAGD-GSH Ltd. evolved a new method on calculation/estimation of the infiltration and recharge.

The project was funded by GVOP-3.1.1.-2004-05-0530/3.0 (Economic Competitiveness Operative Programme) applied research and development programme between 2005 and 2008.

SMARAGD-GSH Ltd. participated in the project as project coordinator, project partners were University of Miskolc and the Northern-Hungarian Water Conservancy Directorate (ÉKÖVIZIG).