Nagyapáti emphasizes turning water back into the landscape, highlighting the need to end water loss through natural recharge.

In Hungary’s semiarid Homokhátság region, a farming group led by Oszkár Nagyapáti is fighting desertification by flooding low-lying fields with cooled, purified thermal-spa water to restore groundwater and land moisture.

The effort, backed by a volunteer team of water guardians, targets declining groundwater and aridification by deliberately flooding a 2.5-hectare field to mimic natural flood cycles.

The initiative aims to raise groundwater levels, create a microclimate with higher humidity, reduce dust, and support nearby vegetation by using deep underground thermal water.

Experts emphasize that water retention and microclimate management are crucial for regional climate resilience amid drought, with the project serving as a potential model for others.

Authorities have shown support and there is interest in expanding flooded areas to extend water retention benefits.

The project has evolved from a pilot to a growing movement, with more than 30 volunteers and plans to expand to additional flooded fields to broaden impact.

Early results show that blocking sluices to let water accumulate created a shallow marsh within a 4-kilometer radius and coincides with reported groundwater improvements and local biodiversity boosts.

Meteorologist Tamás Tóth and other experts underscore water retention as essential for mitigating climate variability and future resilience.

The effort aligns with Hungary’s drought response, including a government drought task force established to address persistent water shortages and agricultural impacts.

The water source comes from deep underground thermal springs redirected from a local spa to the 2.5-hectare field, following negotiations with authorities and temporary canal sluice closures.

The movement, now supported by over 30 volunteers, aims to expand to another flooded field and inspire broader water conservation across villages and towns.