Summary of the Current State of Lake Balaton with Regards to Water Management

Abstract

For the past two years, we have heard alarming news about the water quality status of our favourite “sea”. In both years, dangerous amounts of cyanobacterial blue-green algae multiplied, which can cause diarrhoea, skin and eye irritation in bathers, and was also accompanied by visible vegetation proliferation. In 2019, the phenomenon occurred in autumn, but in 2020, right in the middle of the tourist season, so it required immediate intervention to save the season. However, instead of momentary firefighting, long-term plans are needed to maintain the lake in order to ensure water quality appropriate to the different modes of uses.