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Hungary: The problem of water

April 15, 2013

Nearly two million people in Hungary – particularly in the southeast – lack access to clean drinking water.

Mädchen trinkt ein Glas Wasser. Für Ungarn ist das Problem so alt wie ungelöst: Rund zwei Million Menschen haben keinen Zugang zu sauberem Trinkwasser, vor allem im Südosten des Landes. Dort ist das Wasser mit Arsen verseucht; Copyright: DW
Image: DW

In a number of European countries, the groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals. Hungary, Serbia and Croatia are especially affected, but the problem is particularly acute in Hungary, where many municipalities cannot afford to drill down to deeper and cleaner groundwater. At the same time, the European Union says clean water is a human right, and member states must take action to ensure it.  But both local governments and national leaders in Hungary are ignoring the problem.

Image: DW
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