Steven N.Water service was cut off in several towns in Pest County on nearly the same day as the start of the current heatwave. Several areas in Solymár, for example, have had no tap water since at least Tuesday. Most affected are the higher-lying neighborhoods of Kerekhegy and Hutweide in the Budapest suburb.
Residents told HVG that the most pressing issue wasn’t the lack of drinking water, which they can get from a water-distributing vehicle, but rather water needed for washing and cleaning. Many households are using bottled mineral water to flush their toilets, which they feel is not only a luxury, but a huge waste.
The region’s representative in Parliament, Tamás Menczer of Fidesz, said that “water governance” was being set up in Solymár, but he was not able to say how long the water shortage in the settlement would last. Menczer asked the area’s residents to use their water supplies extremely sparingly once their household water service resumes.
In addition to Solymár, water restrictions were introduced in at least ten other towns in Pest County: Üröm, Piliborosjenő, Pilisszentiván, Budakalász, Pomáz, Pilisszántó, Pilisszentkereszt, Pilisvörösvár, Csobánka, and Szentendre. The local water works asked the residents in these settlements to conserve their drinking water, not to fill pools with drinking water or irrigate with it, and not to wash their cars.
In addition, Telex readers told the news site that there had been no water in some parts of Pilisszentlászló since Thursday, and had been informed that water service wouldn’t resume until Wednesday. [HVG, Telex]
A non-accidental infrastructure crisis of this magnitude in a European capital, can only be attributed to poor management.
I agree Michael that possible incompetence may be an issue; however, the issue of corruption may also be in play. For example, any recent infrastructure projects in Pest County including these villages/towns and if yes, any EU funds used? Of course, some times things just break. For example, I was first in Israel in 1980s and was staying in Tel Aviv and only learned about a water quality issue reading the Israeli English press. The hotel had forgotten to tell us about this problem. One other comment, Israel finally cleaned the Yarkon River, but I would still not swim in that “river”, let alone the Danube!
I’m not particularly critical, but – The most pungent river in Europe flows right through the city, for crying out loud!