Hungary faces critical water shortages at Velencei Lake and Zala

The water level of Hungary's Velencei Lake has fallen to a historic low, with the gauge recording 52 cm—just below the previous minimum recorded in September 2022. Experts note that the lake's shallow average depth of about 1.5 m makes it particularly vulnerable to rapid evaporation and climate‑driven fluctuations. They stress that the problem extends beyond simple water loss, requiring adaptation of tourism, recreation and water‑management practices to the lake’s natural limits.

In the Zala region, an unprecedented drought has forced secondary water‑restriction orders in 29 municipalities, affecting roughly 18 000 residents. Two of the nine local reservoirs are nearly empty, prompting the use of water‑truck deliveries. Restrictions ban non‑essential irrigation, pool filling and car washing, and require industrial users to cut water use by at least 20 %. Authorities warn that climate change may worsen such shortages and call for improved water‑storage infrastructure and rain‑water harvesting.