Decades-old Duna-Tisza Homokhátság Drought Faces New Sustainable Water Management Plan
The long-standing drying of the Duna-Tisza Homokhátság is now addressed by a 2026 Sustainable Water Management Plan aiming to retain water locally.
The Duna-Tisza Homokhátság, spanning Bács-Kiskun, Pest and Csongrád-Csanád counties, has experienced a steady drop in groundwater levels for over fifty years, endangering its traditional agriculture, fruit orchards and wetland habitats. Despite numerous reports, plans and the 105/1995 decree, comprehensive action has been lacking, leaving farmers facing erratic yields and villages confronting depopulation. In 2024, the Kiskunsági Nemzeti Park’s water-retention efforts restored 200 ha of wetlands, boosting bird populations, illustrating that modest, locally-focused interventions can work.
The latest 1265/2026 government resolution adopts a Sustainable Water Management Plan that prioritises water-holding, revises usage rules and calls for coordinated financing. However, the plan’s success depends on sustained investment, cross-sector collaboration and translating pilot successes into region-wide projects. Without effective execution, the Homokhátság’s water loss could further erode Hungary’s food security and environmental assets.
Why it matters
The region’s water crisis threatens Hungary’s agriculture, biodiversity and drinking-water supply, affecting national food security and the economy.
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