Sewer network operation

After its foundation in 1873 and the approval of the general swage plans, Budapest started the sewage construction with a great swing. With a remarkable anticipation, the main sewers were designed and built with a section size whose water collection capacity suits even todays needs. 

The sewage of Budapest can nowadays be considered complete. The safe operation of the sewer network exceeding 5000 km in length and the collection of the daily 500-600 thousand m³ wastewater created in the city are performed by the Budapest Sewage Works Ltd.

Sewer inspection

For the purpose of unhindered sewer operation, the technical state and operation conditions of the network must be continuously controlled. During inspections, we explore any possible damages, irregularities occurred in the material, structure and works of the sewer and measure the height of the wastewater and the settled sludge. 

The greatest part of such inspections is carried out by the most modern industrial camera equipment. We inspect the passable sewer sections via hand cameras, while the 15-80 cm diameter sections through automated cameras and the household sewers with the help of portable equipment that can be introduced with a rod. The footings are sent to a "control" vehicle furnished as a studio, where the data are computer-processed with the inspection software (IKAS32) according to the EU standard 13508-2. We perform the inspection of some 1000 km sewers every year.

Sewer cleaning

For the maintenance of the water collection capacity and in order to avoid undesired odour effects, the sewer network must be regularly cleaned of organic and inorganic matters and debris, as well as fats settled on the walls of the sewers. 21 different types of specialised machines are at our disposal for the sewer cleaning. 

We clean a sewer length of at least 500-600 km every year. During preventive cleaning, we remove 30 000 m³ wastewater sludge from the network. Today, even the treatment and disposal of wastewater sludge is done in an environment-friendly way, with the most modern technology. 

We use sewer washing specialised machines for the cleaning of great diameter and great runoff sewers, which work with a pressure of 150-180 bar and a water quantity of 210-325 l/min. With the most modern environment-saving specialised machines, we are not only able to wash and pull at the sewers, but also work more efficiently with the dehydration of the pulled sludge and the recycling of water.
For the removal of any possible failures (stoppage) occurring in the public sewers, we are at the disposition of the public with a toll free on-call number available day and night.

Sewer repair

There are several ten thousand cleaning manholes and sinkholes on the network. Since most of these are continuously subject to traffic, various failures can happen. Every year, we perform the replacement of several hundred sunken or damaged man-hole covers and sinkhole grids with the most modern technology and 24 hours a day. On the basis of the companys own patent, the covers built in with the help of the Duralevel System resist the burden of increased road traffic without sinking in a guaranteed way.
For the maintenance of the above-mentioned water collection capacity, the quick repair of the damaged sewer sections or connecting conduits on short sections is also necessary. We perform the repair of some 3 km conduits every year with the application of the environment-friendly "no dig" technology without excavation.

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Some characteristic data of the Budapest sewer network:

Types of the Budapest sewage network (in km)

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The distribution of the Budapest sewage network system (in km)

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The complete sewage of Budapest (www.bpcsatornazas.hu)