To say that Budapest was built on water is not an exaggeration at all. An exceptionally rich network of streams and medicinal water can be found under the city, which was built on the two sides of the river Danube. The primary function of Fővárosi Vízművek (Waterworks of Budapest), which has a history of 133 years, has been to supply excellent quality of water to the inhabitants and visitors of the capital city since it first started to operate.

Fővárosi Vízművek was founded in 1868 and since then, its duty has been to supply excellent quality of water that complies with the most stringent water quality standards. The cleanness of the water of Budapest is ensured by the unusual geology and natural filtering effect of Szentendrei-sziget, the green island situated north of the capital. The other important water resource of Budapest can be found in the southern area, on the Csepel-sziget (Csepel Island).

Today, the Company serves 20 neighboring communities in addition to the capital city, altogether 2.1 million customers with potable water. The total length of pipes is 4,650 km. The average daily water demand in Budapest is in the range of 667,000 cubic meters, it increases to 800,000 cubic meters in the summer season.

The hygienic testing, analysis of the supplied water goes back to over a hundred years. The laboratories of the Company test and control the quality of water in accordance with the hygienic requirements every day. The 17,000 tests conducted annually guarantees the excellent quality of the potable water distributed in Budapest and furthermore, the Company strongly supports the preservation of the values of nature and the achievement of the objectives of environmental protection.

The water reservoir of Sánc utca (Sánc street) located on Gellért-hegy (Gellért Hill) rising above the city, is a unique tourist attraction. Due to the special, piano-shaped design of the water tanks, the water stored in them is in continuous flow and thereby always remains clean and fresh. The wall thickness of the tanks is 35 cm; the maximum height of the water in them is 8 meters. Those interested are welcome to see the two monumental tanks of altogether 80,000 cubic meters and the pipe chamber. The water reservoir is open to visitors from 13h00 to15h00 on Tuesdays and Wednesday during the period between the end of March and the end of October and from 10h00 to 14h00 on the first Saturday of every month. Admission is free.

Visit us on the Internet as well!
www.vizmuvek.hu

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