The exceptionally low level of the River Tisza has raised concerns about the drinking water supply for nearly 91,000 people in central Hungary. In response, the authorities have installed a floating water intake system in Szolnok to ensure uninterrupted access to potable water should levels fall further.
The emergency infrastructure has been deployed jointly by regional water management authorities and the local water utility. The Szolnok surface water treatment plant supplies drinking water to the city and seven surrounding settlements, making it a vital resource for tens of thousands of residents, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.
The floating platform is equipped with two mobile pumps capable of taking over water extraction if required. Specialists have also completed the necessary connections to enable the system to be activated swiftly should the Tisza approach critically low levels.
Check out a video of the new floating platform:
Officials said the river recently fell to minus 297 centimetres, just four centimetres above the lowest level on record. Similar precautionary measures were introduced during periods of extreme low water in 2022 and 2025, underlining the growing strain posed by increasingly frequent drought conditions.
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