West-Transdanubian Regional Water Management Council

By project Gov4Water

Published on 19 February 2025

Hungary

Nyugat-Dunántúl

About this good practice

The West-Transdanubian Regional Water Management Council helps the uniform implementation of the tasks of water management at regional level, and the coordinated operation of water-related activities. It carries out its activities independently and in coordination with the County Government. The Council promotes the unified implementation of the professional tasks of water management at regional level and the coordinated operation of water planning, hydraulic engineering and service activities.
Its area of operation is the same as that of the Water Directorate: the whole of Vas and Zala counties, and parts of Győr-Moson-Sopron, Veszprém and Somogy counties.
Members are representatives from the relevant ministry, regional water, environmental and conservation agencies and authorities, county and municipal governments, utility company and the national park.
In its field of activity, it gives opinions on:
-drinking water quality improvement, wastewater treatment and drainage programs, and developments related to urban stormwater management
- local water management investments, improvements, programs
- territorial damage management plans and activities (flood, inland water, drought, water quality) affecting the area of operation
- feasibility studies of municipal investments prior to the submission of an application, from a technical point of view
- the technical content of calls for proposals for public or EU funding.
It may also propose revision or modification of legislation.

Resources needed

The operational background of the Council is provided by the Water Directorate - 1 dedicated officer - and its operating costs are included in the budget of the Directorate. Its members do not receive any remuneration for their participation.

Evidence of success

The Council gives opinion on the urban stormwater drainage plans, among other things (299 since 2017) to be submitted for EU funding. They provide opinion and recommendations, in order to help and guide the applicants in design and planning of the technical approach, so as to ensure that the technical solutions are best suited to the characteristics and the sub-basin management plans prepared for the area concerned. Later they check that the opinions have been considered in the design.

Potential for learning or transfer

Setting up organisations like the Council it’s an easy first step if there is the political will, but it’s recommended that at least has the right to give an opinion.
Attention should be paid to that the competent authorities recognise that this is the way to ensure that the professional tasks of water management are carried out in a uniform manner at regional level.
Problems are approached from different angles in each organisation, added value is that communication through the Council allows for mutual understanding of each other's perspectives, thus providing an opportunity for consensus building and information on current problems, solutions and research in each organisation. Through the Council, organisations working on the same issue get to know each other better, facilitating the flow of information.