Could thermal water save Hungary’s biggest agricultural region?

Southern Hungary’s Great Plain, once one of the country’s most productive agricultural regions, is increasingly resembling a semi-desert. Cracked soil, drifting sand and disappearing groundwater have become familiar sights across the Homokhátság area, where years of drought and poor water management are pushing the landscape towards irreversible degradation.

Dire situation in Hungary’s agriculture

Local farmer Oszkár Nagyapáti has witnessed the transformation first-hand. He told Euronews, that on land that once supported crops and grazing, he now finds groundwater sinking ever deeper below the surface. According to him, conditions worsen each year, leaving farmers increasingly helpless in the face of advancing aridity.

Researchers describe the Homokhátság as a rare example of a semi-arid zone emerging in Central Europe. Studies link the phenomenon to a combination of climate change, declining rainfall, river regulation and inadequate water retention. Historic flooding from the Danube and Tisza rivers once replenished soils naturally, but decades of river channelisation have cut the region off from these life-giving waters.

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Can thermal water be the key to save our soil?

In response, a grassroots initiative led by Nagyapáti is attempting an unconventional solution: using surplus thermal water from nearby spas to restore moisture to the land. Hungary is renowned for its deep geothermal resources, yet large quantities of warm water are often released unused into canals.

Working with local authorities, the volunteer group – calling themselves “water guardians” – redirected cooled and treated spa overflow onto a low-lying field covering around 2.5 hectares. The aim was to recreate natural flooding cycles that once sustained the plain.

By late autumn, shallow wetlands had formed where dry soil previously dominated. While modest in size, the project’s supporters believe its impact could extend several kilometres beyond the flooded area. Increased surface water may help raise groundwater levels, improve soil moisture and encourage the return of native vegetation and wildlife.

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Can Hungary escape even worse meteorologigal phenomena?

Meteorologists note that water retention will be crucial as Hungary faces increasingly erratic weather patterns. Rising temperatures are altering precipitation cycles, often bringing strong winds without rain, which further dry out the soil. Artificial wetlands, experts say, could help create local microclimates by increasing humidity, moderating temperatures and reducing dust.

Following another difficult summer for agriculture nationwide, the Hungarian government has acknowledged the growing threat of drought, establishing a task force to address water scarcity. Crop losses linked to extreme weather have already affected national economic performance.