The Central Tisza Region Water Directorate (KÖTIVIZIG) hosted the first annual review and partner meeting of the D-CLEAN project in Szolnok from June 2 to 4, 2026. D-CLEAN is an international project supported by the Interreg Danube Region Program, which aims to promote more sustainable, climate-conscious, and nature-based solutions for wastewater and stormwater management in the Danube River Basin, focusing primarily on the needs of smaller municipalities and decentralized systems.
The project involves 10 partners from several countries in the Danube region: Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe from Slovakia, the University of Ljubljana and LIMNOS from Slovenia, BOKU University from Austria, the International Association of Water Supply Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area (IAWD) also from Austria, the Regional Development Agency of Srem from Serbia, Administra?ia Na?ională „Apele Române” / Romanian Waters and the Romanian Water Association from Romania, Međimurske Vode d.o.o. from Croatia, and the Central Tisza Region Water Directorate (KÖTIVIZIG). The OVF participates in the project as an associated strategic partner, supporting professional cooperation.
During the event in Szolnok, the partners reviewed the technical and financial results of the first project year and discussed the tasks for the coming period. Key topics of the program included an assessment of the situation in the pilot areas, the experiences of stakeholders, the prioritization of sustainable solutions, and a presentation of the possible applications of the QGIS Tool geographic information system software.
As part of the side programme, participants visited the Flood Protection Training Centre and the Water Museum in Szolnok, where they gained an overview of the infrastructure supporting flood protection preparedness, along with the most important aspects of the operation and historical development of the Hungarian water management sector.
On the second day of the event, the partners engaged in an interactive workshop on the use of the QGIS Tool, which is one of the project’s key tools for supporting practical planning. On the final day, the study tour took us to the Mezőtúr wastewater treatment plant, where we were introduced to modern, environmentally friendly technical solutions through a demonstration of water treatment technologies. Among the developments showcased at the Mezőtúr site were the expansion of the treatment plant’s capacity, the application of Organica technology - which employs a nature-based biological treatment solution - as well as advanced sludge treatment and modern mechanical pretreatment solutions.