Nature-based managed aquifer recharge solutions for effective water retention in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary
Abstract
At the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) World Congress 15-19 September 2025, Melbourne, Australia, Szilvia Simon (ELTE) presented ClimEx-PE–aligned research on nature-based Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) for Hungary’s Danube–Tisza Interfluve. Her talk, “Nature-based managed aquifer recharge solutions for effective water retention in the Danube–Tisza Interfluve, Hungary,” outlined how managed aquifer recharge can bank excess water and stabilize supplies during drought—directly supporting ClimEx-PE’s goals to co-develop climate-robust groundwater solutions.
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Nature-based managed aquifer recharge solutions for effective water retention in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary Szilvia Simon, Brigitta Czauner, Márk Szijártó, Judit Mádl-Szőnyi Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary
2 •Intensified water cycle –more frequent extreme events: droughts, floods, flash floods, inland water inundation + increasing human impact •Decreasing infiltration, water level decline •Average water level decline in the country > 2 cm/year (1986-2010) (Pinke et al. 2020) •It can reach 10 cm/year in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve (DTI) (EDO, 2024) Negative effect on: Groundwater resources Ecosystems and lakes Agriculture Water shortage in Hungary
3 (https://vizeink.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Aszaly_VGT3_2021.pdf) Increasing impact 5-6 km3 GW is missing 7-8 km3 GW is missing •Danube-Tisza Interfluve (DTI) was declared as semiarid area •In the DTI significant water level decrease since 1960 due to climate change, overexploitation, canal construction, not proper land use-afforestation •Wetlands and lakes are highly degraded such as the connected groundwater dependent ecosystems Nyírség DTI Impacts on groundwater The vulnerability of groundwater resources due to climate change
Water related challenges in the DTI Complex problem requires complex solutions, based on the area’s geological and hydrogeological conditions. 4 (modified after Mádl-Szőnyi and Tóth, 2009)
Water related challenges in the DTI Drought Floods Inland water Drought Complex problem requires complex solutions, based on the area’s geological and hydrogeological conditions. 4 (modified after Mádl-Szőnyi and Tóth, 2009) A comprehensive water retention and water supply would be necessary in the area. However, most of the cases groundwater flow systems are neglected during planning of water retention…
Nature-based MAR, a new concept and a solution Nature-based MAR ® (Szabó et al., 2023) 6
7 Nature-based MAR (NaBa-MAR ®) solution (Water4All-ClimEx-PE, 2023, ELTE, TCD, UB, UU, UZ) Groundwater flow system concept + Concept of Managed Aquifer Recharge solution from small to landscape scale
Possible water retention solutions in the DTI MAR Nature-based surface water retention, MAR 5 (modified after Mádl-Szőnyi and Tóth, 2009)
Treated wastewater Precipitation, Surface runoff Floods Inland water Treated wastewater Surface runoff 8 Nature-based MAR in the DTI region 1. Possible water sources (modified after Mádl-Szőnyi and Tóth, 2009)
Conclusion •A combination of the MAR concept and groundwater flow systems approach, as NaBa-MAR ® solution, can enhance the effectiveness of the water replenishment in an area. •The position of the infiltration/artificial recharge regarding the groundwater flow systems is indispensable to planning and obtaining an effective water supply in the area. •NaBa-MAR, considering the local flow systems, can be effective in the restoration of wetlands and the ecosystems located in discharge position. In a through-flow situation, the efficiency decreases. •Further investigations are necessary to simulate the NaBa-MAR solution in different hydraulic position. •At the landscape scale, the complex application of the MAR solutions harmonised with the groundwater flow systems can provide a regional-scale solution against water shortage in the area. (NaBa-MAR solution). 14
Thank you for your attention! This work has been implemented by the National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate Change (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014) project within the framework of Hungary's National Recovery and Resilience Plan supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the European Union. The work received funding from the European Commission and Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary from National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; the Irish Enviromental Protection Agency; the Dutch Research Council and the Agencia Española de Investigación in the frame of the collaborative international consortium ClimEx-PE financed under the 2022 Joint call of the European Partnership 101060874 —Water4All. Project no. 2023-1.2.2HE_PARTNERSÉG-2023-00005 has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the 2023-1.2.2-HE_PARTNERSÉG funding scheme.