The Hungarian Water Association (HWA) organised a technical event dedicated to addressing the complex challenges of rainwater management. The event brought together experts from scientific, industrial, operational, water management, regulatory, and municipal sectors to explore the issue from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
Rainwater is a multifaceted issue — rain affects everyone. It is not enough to examine it purely from a scientific standpoint, considering the impact and dangers of climate change, especially the increasing variability of extreme flood events on urban water infrastructure. The water sector must consider what it can contribute to tackling these challenges. Sustainable urban rainwater management is a truly interdisciplinary challenge, encompassing various scientific and technical fields. Therefore, cooperation and integration between these areas are critically important.
More than 70 participants — including representatives from science, industry, water management, local governments, and regulatory bodies — gathered at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics for an interactive and intensive professional dialogue. A significant step was taken at the end of the event: under the leadership of Péter Dózsa, Managing Director of Pureco IDEA Ltd., the HWA Stormwater Working Group was established. This new platform aims to foster sector-wide collaboration and serve as a catalyst for joint thinking and proposal development.
Changing climate, changing tasks
A representative of the Hungarian Meteorological Service stated that, according to forecasts, while the annual volume of precipitation is decreasing, extreme weather events, such as heavy floods, are becoming more frequent. This places increased pressure on urban infrastructure and demands new types of solutions.
Authorities, researchers, civil engineers: working together for solutions
At the event, a representative of the Ministry of Energy presented the restructured water management authority system, emphasising the importance of cooperation during the permitting processes. The University of Pannonia brought the issue of microplastics into focus, while water utility operators centred their presentations around network loads and the sustainability of their systems.
Designers and municipal representatives shared practical examples demonstrating the challenges of urban operations, as well as the opportunities for rainwater retention and management, with particular attention to balancing changing climate conditions and infrastructure limitations.
A new professional platform is born
In the afternoon panel discussion, all professional sectors were represented. Based on shared experiences, best practices, and common dilemmas, the decision was made to establish the Stormwater Working Group under the umbrella of HWA. Its mission is to bring together planners, operators, authorities, municipalities, and ministries to jointly develop future-proof solutions and professional guidelines that support sustainable and efficient rainwater management.
Rainwater is not a problem — it is an opportunity. The time has come to make the most of it.
