Following a long period of professional development, the new governmental and ministerial decree level implementation regulations regarding thermal spring water extracted for purely energy purposes were published in 31 December 2013.

In the spring of 2013, the general requirement to backfeed thermal spring water extracted for energy purposes was repealed and the new regulations published recently set down the conditions for their practical implementation.

The goal of the amendments is that the users of thermal spring water should not suffer needless burdens, while environmental criteria are also fully met. Accordingly, the regulations pay particular attention to the fact that, when emitting used thermal spring water, farmers must apply wastewater and used water treatment technologies that are environmentally friendly and that also apply its natural, biological processes in a way that is advantageous to both society and the environment.

The new regulations enable the multifunctional, close to nature purification and treatment of emitted thermal spring water in reservoirs established in aquatic habitats. This environmentally friendly method contributes significantly to enabling used water to meet pollutant emission requirements.

Another important step forward is that in future, intensive reservoir fish farming may be performed using extracted thermal spring water, meaning that thermal spring water brought to the surface may be utilized for several purposes.

In the interests of users and horticulture farmers, the Ministry of Rural Development has reviewed the methods for calculating water stock and mine contributions, the justification of emission limits and the levels of specific fines.

In harmony with the Ministry's strategy for the fruit and vegetable sector, the new regulations provide the users of thermal spring water with the opportunity to plan for the long term and perform their farming activities in a predictable manner, and as such assures Hungarian agriculture the conditions required for the production of high quality, fresh vegetables, and enables a dependable livelihood for thousands of families who make a living from greenhouse horticulture.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)