An investigation is under way after a dark brown liquid was observed flowing into the significantly receded bed of the Danube near Almásfüzitő, in northern Hungary. Measurements by investigative news outlet Átlátszó indicated that the liquid has a pH of 10, meaning it is strongly alkaline.
The substance was visible along roughly a one-kilometre stretch of the riverbank below the former red mud reservoirs. Its exact composition has not yet been established, and authorities are awaiting laboratory results.
Authorities launch investigation
The Győr-Moson-Sopron County Government Office, which is responsible for water and water-protection matters in the case, said it had received three reports concerning the suspected pollution. Officials began an investigation and carried out an on-site inspection on 12 August. They said the findings are still being evaluated and that no legal violation has been established so far. The authority added that it would take appropriate action if the assessment finds grounds for intervention.
Continuous environmental monitoring is also taking place in the area, including checks on both surface and groundwater. The North Transdanubian Water Directorate said it is not a regulatory authority and therefore cannot take enforcement action itself. However, it has reported the conditions around the red mud reservoirs, including those associated with the low water level, to the competent water authority.
The operator, Tatai Környezetvédelmi Zrt. (TKV), did not respond to Átlátszó’s questions, although reports indicate that the company has also taken samples from the affected area. Almásfüzitő’s independent mayor, Gergely Szabó, said the municipality was aware of the pollution and had also reported it. The town is now waiting for the laboratory results to establish exactly what is entering the Danube.
Residents report unusual smell
Local residents and anglers have reportedly complained about the phenomenon. Some residents described a strong, medicinal-like odour, saying it had at times irritated their airways. Átlátszó reported that the dark brown substance could be clearly seen entering the exposed riverbed over approximately one kilometre, with the strip along the riverbank appearing affected.
The low water level of the Danube has made the phenomenon particularly visible, but the source and environmental impact of the liquid remain unclear until laboratory testing is completed.
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Former red mud reservoirs now used for waste
The Almásfüzitő site contains former red mud storage cells and is reportedly the country’s second-largest red mud reservoir after the disaster site at Kolontár. Areas classified as Natura 2000 sites are located nearby.
The reservoirs are now managed by TKV and have been subject to a reclamation process involving the covering of the former red mud cells with hazardous and non-hazardous waste and biological treatment. The company is authorised to deposit up to 315,000 tonnes of waste a year in Cell VII, including 280,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste.
Environmental organisation Greenpeace has raised concerns about the site for years, arguing that pollutants could enter groundwater and the Danube from the unlined reservoirs. The organisation previously cited measurements showing elevated levels of fluoride, arsenic and molybdenum in groundwater.
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Concerns raised, but the company just renewed their permits
The operator and authorities, however, have maintained that the site’s activities comply with the relevant regulations. The facility received renewed environmental permits in 2020 and 2025, with the latest permit reportedly containing stricter conditions than previous authorisations.
The TKV is owned by Envirotis Holding, which has been linked to the Mészáros Group through the Status Next environmental private equity fund. For now, the key question remains unanswered: what exactly is flowing into the Danube? Authorities and local officials are awaiting laboratory results before determining whether further measures are necessary.
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