Every year on 22 March on the World Water Day, it is valid to draw attention to the fact that the world’s water resources are declining, their conservation is a matter of utmost importance for humanity as a whole. The state has fundamental responsibilities to ensure the economical and efficient use of our existing water resources. The State Audit Office of Hungary (SAO) continues also this year to pay particular attention to issues related to water management and the adequacy of public water management, whether it is used for irrigation or the operation of public utilities.
The change in the audit approach of SAO in recent years has led to a greater focus on issues that affect the society at large, including the audit of the performance of public tasks related to water management.
In its analysis and audit report published in September 2023, the SAO explored water protection from different perspectives. The latter document revealed that while Hungary has performed well in the safe management of wastewater, the water quality of our water bodies has not improved significantly in recent years.
In a report published last month, the SAO concluded that the sector strategies were in line with international objectives and EU targets concerning drinking water supply in 2017-2022. However, there is a risk that the current form of drinking water supply will not be sustainable in the long term. In this report, the SAO has drawn attention to the risks to the long-term sustainability of the provision of drinking water of adequate quality.
The SAO will continue to prioritise the audit of water management. It is reflected in the SAO’s 2024 audit plan, which focuses on water management in three areas. This year, the SAO will audit the implementation of the National Water Strategy in terms of agricultural water needs and sustainable water use. Furthermore, it will examine the water management system, with a particular focus on industrial water pollution and water pollution from improper waste management. It will audit the impact of all this on the quality of water bodies and will also look at the results of measures taken to reduce water pollution. In the area of water protection and water management administration, the SAO will carry out a separate audit to review the adequacy of the system of task performance, as well as water management and water damage prevention assets. As a result of the audits, the SAO will make recommendations that, if implemented, can make a significant contribution to improving the sustainability of domestic services.