
Improvement of the drinking water quality of the water
supply system serving the settlements of Hejőbába, Hejőpapi, and
Nemesbikk within the framework of the Swiss–Hungarian Cooperation
Programme (Phase II)
Project ID: SM07-WWM-PC1-B-005
Project summary
Programme Operator: National Development Centre
Implementing Agency: Széchenyi Programme Office
Consulting and Service Nonprofit Ltd.
Programme Component Operator / Beneficiary: Borsodvíz
Co. Ltd.
Organisations participating in the implementation of the
programme component:
Professional partners:
Municipality of Hejőbába
Municipality of Hejőpapi
Municipality of Nemesbikk
Civil partner:
Holocén Nature Conservation Association
Area affected by the project:
The water utility system providing the water supply for the settlements
of Hejőbába, Hejőpapi, and Nemesbikk, located in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
County in the Northern Hungary Region.
Justification for the programme component:
The Hejőbába waterworks, established in 1991, which supplies drinking
water to approximately 3,969 residents, has deteriorated in condition.
Its iron and manganese removal equipment is outdated, the technology
is obsolete, the purification efficiency is inadequate, and its
operation is costly. The long-standing water quality problems
have caused sediment deposits in the drinking water network, resulting
in discoloured and turbid water for consumers. Complaints from
residents regarding water quality have become persistent in all
three settlements.
Project objective:
- To ensure compliance with the Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water
intended for human consumption, as well as with Government Decree
No. 5/2023 (I.12.) (together referred to as international and
national regulations); to improve the quality of piped drinking
water that has been deemed unsatisfactory due to its high iron
and manganese content, thereby ensuring the supply of clean and
healthy drinking water for the affected end users (residents).
- Through the independent and supplementary professional activities
implemented within the framework of this programme component,
to develop the Hejőbába water supply system in a way that promotes
environmentally friendly operation, enhances supply security,
and ensures long-term sustainable management.
Project start date: June 1, 2025
Effective date of the funding agreement: July
24, 2025
Amount of funding (net): HUF 639,851,536
Planned implementation period: June 1, 2025 –
december 31, 2027 (31 months)
A development to be implemented between 2025 and 2027 will involve
the modernization and capacity expansion of the existing, outdated
drinking water treatment technology and the refurbishment of the
technical condition of the waterworks facilities, resulting in
the establishment of a fully automated, PLC-controlled water treatment
system equipped with a remote monitoring system.
The planned design capacity of the modernized Water Treatment
Plant is Qd max. = 500 m³/day.
For the disposal of sludge water generated by the technology,
a newly constructed 45 m³ sedimentation-decantation tank will
be built on the waterworks site, from which the sludge water will
be discharged into the existing receiving channel after sedimentation.
As part of the investment, the existing 300 m³ water tower on
the waterworks site will also be refurbished.
A new waterworks building with a usable area of 70 m² will be
constructed to house the water treatment technology. In the machine
room of the traditionally structured building, the 4 iron and
manganese removal filter tanks will be installed. Separate rooms
will be created for the high- and low-voltage control cabinets.
Outdoor-facing chemical dosing rooms will be provided for the
storage and dosing of chemicals. The building will also include
sanitary facilities (toilet, washbasin), whose wastewater will
be directed to a newly constructed collection pit for removal.
After the commissioning of the new complex iron and manganese
removal technology, the entire 35.2 km drinking water network
will undergo mechanical cleaning and disinfection to remove iron
and manganese deposits that have accumulated over many years.
During the reconstruction works, existing network nodes required
for mechanical network cleaning and disinfection will be modified
and refurbished, and new flushing points will also be established.
The reconstruction works will also include the replacement of
old, outdated water service connections designated by the service
provider in the three settlements, the renovation of public taps,
and the replacement of aging gate valves in existing reinforced
concrete chambers.