Staff from the North Hungarian Water Management Directorate (ÉMVIZIG) are removing duckweed from the River Bodrog, after the plant proliferated in significant quantities in the Sárospatak area and, in places, formed a continuous mat on the water’s surface – as reported by MTI.
On 19 October, ÉMVIZIG posted on its Facebook page that the removal of duckweed had already been completed at Sárospatak, whilst work is still ongoing at Alsóbereck and Tokaj. The plant originates from the Bodrog, specifically from one of its tributaries, the Laborc; the slowed water flow caused by the drought and the high temperatures are conducive to its proliferation.
Duckweed forms a continuous layer on the water’s surface, restricting the penetration of light into the water and the supply of oxygen to it, and can therefore harm aquatic life. The vegetation accumulating along the submerged walls is collected by the company’s staff using pond scoops and, from motorboats, by hand, and then lifted out of the river, they wrote.
Since work began, water management staff have collected and removed more than 300 tonnes of duckweed from the water. The aim of the operation is to improve water quality and protect aquatic life.
