D-CLEAN in Middle Tisza Region, Hungary

D-CLEAN pilot area feature | Hungary, Middle Tisza Region

In the heart of Hungary's Great Plain, five small and closely connected settlements have been selected as a D-CLEAN pilot area. Their shared landscape and proximity make them an ideal place to explore practical, affordable wastewater solutions.

A lowland landscape of connected communities

The Middle Tisza region is a flat lowland landscape in the heart of Hungary's Great Plain, home to several small, closely connected communities. Five nearby settlements have been selected as a pilot area in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County: Kuncsorba, Kétpó, Mezőhék, Mesterszállás and part of Mezőtúr. Their close proximity and shared regional characteristics make them ideal for exploring practical and sustainable wastewater solutions that respond to local needs.

Existing infrastructure, but not for everyone

Some infrastructure already exists in the area, but it does not reach all households and needs to be complemented:

• Sewer network: in Mezőtúr, Mezőhék and Mesterszállás.

• Wastewater treatment: three active treatment plants in Mezőtúr and Mezőhék.

• Stormwater: in Mezőtúr, a network of several main canals, ditches, a pressure pipe and three stormwater reservoirs; in the other settlements, a system of main canals and drainage ditches.

Why nature-based solutions fit here

The settlements have relatively small populations spread across a wide rural area, so extending traditional sewer systems everywhere would be costly and impractical. Nature-based approaches offer a simple and affordable way forward, working with the landscape to treat water locally.

The close proximity of Kuncsorba, Kétpó, Mezőhék, Mesterszállás and part of Mezőtúr also creates opportunities for shared solutions, while still allowing each village to adapt measures to its own needs. It shows how cleaner water and greener surroundings can go hand in hand in rural areas.

Part of a bigger picture

D-CLEAN, Improving Water Quality in the Danube River Basin: Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Wastewater and Stormwater Management in Small Settlements, works in pilot areas across the Danube River Basin because every small community faces its own challenges: different landscapes, different risks and different local rules. In each pilot area, local communities, experts and decision-makers come together to design solutions that truly fit local needs. By testing ideas on the ground, the pilots show what works, what doesn't, and how sustainable, decentralised solutions can be scaled up to benefit many other communities across the region.

Key dates for the Middle Tisza pilot

• 7 May 2026: Study visit in Ormož.

• 10 November 2026: Training 1.

• February 2027: Training 2.

Pilot at a glance

• Location: Middle Tisza Region, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County, Hungary

• Settlements: Kuncsorba, Kétpó, Mezőhék, Mesterszállás, part of Mezőtúr

• Sewer network: Mezőtúr, Mezőhék, Mesterszállás

• Stormwater facility: canals and ditches in all settlements; Mezőtúr also has a pressure pipe and three reservoirs

• Wastewater treatment plants: three active plants in Mezőtúr and Mezőhék

The Middle Tisza pilot flyer is available in the D-CLEAN library in English and Hungarian.