Zalaszentgrót region imposes second‑degree water restrictions amid severe drought

Persistent heat and a sharp rise in water consumption have exhausted the reservoirs serving Zalaszentgrót and neighboring villages in western Hungary. Zalavíz Zrt. announced that the system can no longer meet demand, prompting the introduction of second‑degree water restrictions for 29 municipalities, affecting roughly 18,000 residents. The measures ban hose‑based garden watering, car washing and filling of private pools, and require industrial users to cut consumption by at least 20 %.

Pressure drops and intermittent shortages have already been reported, with water trucks deployed to supply households in villages such as Zalacsány, Kehidakustány and others. Some local thermal baths have reduced their operating pools, while the Szabolcs‑Szatmár‑Bereg County Hospital in Nyíregyháza imposed limited water use after microbiological findings in its supply network. Authorities stress that the restrictions aim to preserve drinking water for households, health‑care facilities, schools and fire‑fighting needs while the region copes with an unprecedented drought.

Officials warn that a 20 % reduction in consumption for two weeks or a significant rainfall event would be needed to alleviate the crisis.