Summary of the Joint Session on Water Retention in Hungary

On January 30, 2025, the joint session of the Water Management and Hydraulic and Technical Hydrology Department was held at the General Directorate of Water Management, Hungary. The event, titled "Damming and/or Water Retention: Regional and Local Water Retention Opportunities in Hungary," brought together several renowned experts to share their knowledge and experiences on various aspects of water retention.

Among the speakers was Zsóka Szabó, who presented a joint work with Judit Mádl-Szőnyi (ELTE), titled "Application Possibilities of Managed Aquifer Recharge: Domestic and International Experiences." The presentation covered the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) method, its goals, and its role in integrated water management. Additionally, it highlighted the types of MAR, factors influencing its application and effectiveness, and both domestic and international examples. Special attention was given to the application of MAR systems in Europe and Hungary, as well as related domestic projects, including the ClimEx-PE project.

The presentation emphasized the necessity of landscape-scale solutions for managing hydroclimatic extremes, which require the involvement of groundwater reservoirs and flows. The NaBa-MAR® concept offers an innovative approach by utilizing natural water surpluses and shortages to balance landscape-scale differences, making it highly relevant to the objectives of the ClimEx-PE project.

The session concluded successfully, providing valuable information and new perspectives to the participants.