Debrecen4U January 31, 2025

Introduction to the measuring stations of the Environmental Monitoring System

The Environmental Monitoring System guarantees the safety of the people of Debrecen.

The Environmental Monitoring System consists of 16 complex measuring stations and two surface water testing stations, which form a unified, territorially connected system covering the entire city and providing data about our environment 24 hours a day, every day of the week. The Environmental Monitoring System guarantees the safety of the people of Debrecen.

Establishing the Environmental Monitoring System is one of the 50 measures formulated in the Debrecen environmental protection program, the Green Codex. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the city of Debrecen, the University of Debrecen, and ATOMKI, and it is of paramount strategic importance.

The country’s unique, expert-designed, automated information and data collection, information network, analysis and monitoring system, operated and supervised 24 hours a day, monitors wildlife, surface and groundwater, soil and agricultural land, air and their changes through instrumental observation, continuous sampling and analysis.

To preserve and develop the state of the environment, the data necessary for monitoring and improvement must be constantly available. With this information, it is possible to assess the extent of exposure to environmental systems, the cause and direction of any changes that may occur, and, if necessary, to turn the latter in a favourable direction.

The committee responsible for the development of the Environmental Monitoring System has established four separate but jointly coordinated professional working groups to examine the key environmental elements, namely water, soil, air and biodiversity environmental factors, and two additional horizontal working groups (IT, Legal and Economic) to support the work of these working groups.

The working groups have designated 16 common reference points, where complex measuring stations have been established. These locations form the core network, where each working group continuously performs measurements, and the network has been expanded by establishing two additional surface water monitoring stations.

The scientific programme was recorded in a strategic essential document presented in December 2023. After this, the implementation phase includes the design of complex measuring points, the construction of the infrastructure necessary for continuous and reliable operation, the procurement of sampling and analytical equipment, the development of procedural protocols, support for scientific research, and the development of the related public information system are in progress.

MEASURING STATIONS

The Environmental Monitoring System consists of 16 complex measuring stations, each monitoring the state of air, groundwater, aerobiome, soil and biodiversity.

Location:

• Józsa, Klastrompart sor
• Northwestern Economic Zone – Nagymacs
• Northwestern Economic Zone – Józsa /M35 – Józsa junction/
• Great Forest  – 5  Benczúr Gyula Street Waterworks II. estate
• Vezér Street Reservoir
• Bem Square – ATOMKI
• Újkert – Debrecen Vocational Training Center Creative Technical School
• Tócóskert – Debrecen Vörösmarty Mihály Primary School and Primary Art Education Institute
• Fényesudvar Housing Estate – Karácsony György Street Nursery
• Kerekestelep – Szávay Gyula Street Home for the Elderly
• Veres Péter kert – 59 Szabó Pál Street  Medical Clinic
• Hármashegyi Forest School
• Wesselényi Outer Park
• Southern Economic Zone 2. – The intersection of junction 481-47
• Szepes, Sárga dűlő
• Mikepércs, Rózsás Street

The system will be supplemented with surface water monitoring stations:

• Józsa, Tócó surface water station
• Southern Economic Zone 1. Surface water station next to Tócó stream (intersection of road 481)

BASELINE SURVEY

The prerequisite for monitoring and control activities is baseline monitoring, namely the precise assessment and recording of the baseline, to which changes can be compared. In 2024, the assessment of the baseline with accredited measurements began.

Surface and groundwater sampling and testing:

Sampling locations:

Surface water: at four sections of the Tócó stream

Subsurface water: From the monitoring wells established at the 16 complex measuring stations.

Sampling and testing period: 09 24.2024  – 01.09. 2025.

Soil sampling and testing:

Sampling locations: at the KER 16 complex measuring stations from 3 depth intervals

Sampling period: 01.14.2025. – 02.27.2025.

Ambient air quality measurement:

Measurement occasions: at 3 locations, carried out 4 times per location according to legal requirements, 2-2 times in the heating and non-heating seasons, and 1 measurement lasts 14 days.

Sampling period: 01.15.2025. – 12.10.2025.

Equipment of complex measuring stations

WATER

Subsurface water

– Pressure sensor well water level and water temperature recording probe (DA-S-LKTRB 122 and DA-SMDv32C)

Online data provision: water temperature, water level, conductivity

Continuous data provision is supplemented by occasional physical sampling and laboratory testing.

Surface water:

– Water quality and water flow measurement system, with automatic sampler

Online data provision: water temperature, water level, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, redox potential, chlorophyll, turbidity

Continuous data provision is supplemented by occasional physical sampling and laboratory testing.

AIR

– Air quality measuring (AQ) station

Online data provision: meteorological parameters: air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity; ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter PM1, PM2.5, PM4 and PM10 fraction, TVOC (total volatile organic compounds)

– Automatic high volume flow (HVS, LVS) atmospheric aerosol sampler

Samples are evaluated by laboratory testing after physical sampling.

– Aerobiom sampler (biological agents) complex air sampling system

Samples are assessed by laboratory testing after physical sampling.

– Noise measuring instrument (permanent installation at 6 locations, plus 1 mobile measuring instrument)

Online data provision: noise level

SOIL

The soil test is carried out by evaluating samples taken from the area of ​​16 complex measuring stations, and according to the scientific program, additional areas are also included in the sampling.

BIODIVERSITY

The target area of ​​the biodiversity test is not limited to the 16 measuring stations, as the experts carry out the sampling at the necessary place and time according to the specifics of the living world, according to the habitat, vegetation period, and life cycle.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

– Elements serving the operation of the infrastructure and property security: security camera, fence, data transmission devices, closed container for placing the instruments.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM AND THE CHAIRS OF THE WORKING GROUPS

The Presidency of the Environmental Control System:

• Chairman: Ákos Balázs Deputy Mayor
• Scientific Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Péter Nagy, Director of the Institute for Chemical Coordination;
• Scientific Deputy Co-chair: Prof. Dr. László Stündl, Professor, Head of the Institute of Food Technology, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science and Environmental Management
• Scientific Deputy Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Sándor Kéki, certified chemist, university professor,
• Deputy Head of Coordination: Prof. Dr. István Szűcs, Professor and Director of the Institute of Economics

Biodiversity Working Group Presidency:

• Chair: Dr. Csaba Aradi, ecologist, Honorary Citizen of Debrecen
• Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Szabolcs Lengyel, PhD, Director of the Biodiversity, Climate Change and Water Management Coordination Research Centre, scientific advisor

Air Working Group Presidency:

• Chair: Dr. Zsolt Dombrádi, Director of ATOMKI
• Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Sándor Kéki, chemist, university professor, PhD, Head of the Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Deputy Dean for Science and Applications, President of the Doctoral Council for Science and Informatics

Chair of the Soil Working Group:

• Chairman: Prof. Dr. Endre Harsányi, Professor, Vice-Rector for Sector Development of the University of Debrecen, responsible for the development of agricultural and food science
• Co-chair: Dr. Tamás Rátonyi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Food Science and Environmental Management

Chair of the Water Working Group:

• Chairman: Prof. Dr. János Tamás, Professor, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Water Science and Environmental Informatics
• Co-chair: Ferenc Gorján, CEO of Debreceni Waterworks Ltd.

IT Working Group Presidency:

• Chairman: Prof. Dr. András Hajdu, University Professor, Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics, Head of the Department of Data Science and Visualization
• Co-chair: Dr. Tamás Bérczes, Associate Professor, Faculty of Informatics, Deputy Dean for Economics and External Relations

Legal and Economic Working Group Presidency:

• Chairman: Dr. Antal Szekeres, Titular Registrar of the City of Debrecen
• Co-chair: Prof. Dr. Zsuzsanna Árva, University Professor, Deputy Dean for Education of the Faculty of Political and Legal Sciences, Head of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Head of the Department of Public Administration Law
• Deputy Co-chair: Dr. Zoltán Gabnai, Assistant Professor

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu