This summer, after 2022, has shown that both water supply and the urban heat island phenomenon can become critical in summer, when, in addition to the growing demand for water from the population, the water needs of the (to be increased) green areas of the municipalities must be met to an increasing extent. This also requires water - drinking water or other sources - and blue and green surfaces, where the cooling effect of water through evaporation is exerted.

The projected increase in demand poses challenges in terms of infrastructure operation, infrastructure capacity use and water availability. The combination of these three aspects, together with the geographical characteristics and weather exposure of the municipality, justifies the design of a package of measures, varying from one municipality to another. The challenge is not so much to identify appropriate measures, but to put them into practice.

There are many good examples from abroad of how to deal with similar situations, and several case studies have been developed. At the end of the workshop, we plan to hold a discussion on which of the options in principle can be applied by municipalities in Hungary, and in which direction we should go to preserve the livability and smooth socio-economic functioning of municipalities in times of prolonged heat waves.

The research project was kindly supported by the European Climate Foundation.

The language of the workshop is Hungarian, please find more information here.