Szeged faces rising industrial water demand amid regional drought

Industrial water demand in Szeged is rising amid a critical regional water situation. While the city's drinking water supply remains stable due to deep-well extraction from protected aquifers, the long-term sustainability of the system is under scrutiny. The city's wells can extract approximately 80,000 cubic meters of water daily, while current total consumption for residents and businesses stays around 41,000 cubic meters.

However, major industrial players like Sole-Mizo Zrt. and the upcoming BYD facility are expected to increase demand significantly. BYD alone is projected to consume up to 7,000 cubic meters of water per day. This growth coincides with severe drought conditions in the South Great Plain region, which saw a precipitation deficit of 120–150 mm in 2026 and summer temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above long-term averages.

The Alsó-Tisza-vidéki Vízügyi Igazgatóság (Ativízig) noted that recent rainfall has not been sufficient to offset the impact of the drought, which has even limited available irrigation water for authorized users.