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Improving Bátaszék’s drainage system

  • 28 January 2016

The Bátaszék Cigány-ditch project has improved the rainwater drainage system in Bátaszék as additional ditches were created and new pumps installed.

The expansion of Cigány-ditch, which is the main drainage channel of the western areas [of the town], has finally solved the groundwater problem.

János Gerhát, the Municipality of Bátaszék

The drainage system of the Hungarian town of Bátaszék had long been experiencing infrastructure issues and was no longer able to cope with demand, especially during flooding. Due to the high levels of groundwater in the western part of the town, the hilly water catchment area and the alignment of the main water courses, Bátaszék has been often subject to flooding following heavy rainfall. Residents living in the town’s western districts had been particularly affected.

The project has markedly improved the system, thus ensuring that 2 500 residents and their homes are now better protected from flooding. Priority was also given to improving drainage systems close to public buildings including a nursing home, a swimming pool, a kindergarten-crèche complex and a primary school.

Drainage system improvements featured ‘the expansion of the Cigány ditch, the main drainage channel of the western regions,’ says János Gerhát of the Municipality of Bátaszék. A stretch of more than 1 100 m of the ditch was reconstructed. Renovation work also included the construction of road culverts. The pipe culvert in József Attila utca was also reconstructed because its cross section was no longer large enough.

Improved functioning

In total, 1 531.5 metres of ditches were renewed as a result of the project. Moreover, two powerful pumps were installed at the confluence with the Kövesdi ditch. If gravitational forces are insufficient to ensure that the water is transported, then the sluice tables are closed and water from the Kövesdi water course can be excluded. The water in the Cigány ditch can then be directed to the pump, which will raise the water into the Kövesdi course.

Two people were employed during the project to maintain the drainage system. The key was to ensure that the ditches were always able to transport the water, including water from side branches of the system.

A regulation was also introduced affecting a town-owned piece of land belonging to the bed of Cigány ditch. The regulation will help protect residential areas and commercial premises, as well as create a liveable and safe environment. As a result of the project, 394 metres of water-draining ditch are now regulated.

Total investment and EU funding

Total investment for the project “Bátaszék Cigány-ditch, phase I./a” is HUF 130 468 437 (approximately EUR 422 460), of which the EU is contributing HUF 110 898 118 (approximately EUR 359 042) from the Operational Programme “South Transdanubia” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.