Lake Velence monitoring buoy deployed to track critical water quality

Authorities in Hungary have deployed an automated monitoring buoy in Lake Velence to track deteriorating water quality caused by extreme hydrological and climatic conditions. The National Water Directorate and the Central Transdanubian Water Directorate implemented this measure following a period of severe drought and heatwaves.

Recent measurements indicate that the lake's water has become highly concentrated due to dropping water levels. This has led to exceptionally high salinity levels, increased turbidity, and the proliferation of picoalgae and high chlorophyll-a concentrations, particularly in the eastern basin.

The buoy, relocated from the Maconkai reservoir to the Lake Velence bathing area, performs measurements every 15 minutes. It monitors parameters including water temperature, oxygen levels, salinity, pH, and electrical conductivity. Data is transmitted to a central online database every 30 minutes, allowing experts to detect rapid changes and intervene before the ecological situation worsens.