Reduces the Risk of Flooding
Captures a controlled share of peak floodwaters, protecting critical infrastructure and riparian communities.
Innovative Solutions for Flood Protection, Water Retention and Agricultural Resilience
Agricol Smart Cluster Mireșu Mare is promoting the development of the ALVEOLA-Tisa concept, a research and innovation initiative aimed at making controlled use of part of the floodwater for agriculture, while contributing to flood risk reduction and the protection of critical infrastructure.
The concept proposes an integrated flood protection and temporary water retention system based on removable modular flood barriers and retention basins, referred to as alveoles, located in low-lying floodplain areas.
The system uses modular panels inclined at 60° along watercourses, combining flood protection with water resource conservation for dry periods:
Modular panels tilted at 60° protect the riverbank along the flow direction. During floods, the flap intake gate captures water in a controlled manner and diverts it by gravity through supply channels.
Positioned at a lower elevation than the river's flood level, Pond 1 (Alveole 1) receives the diverted flow, absorbs hydraulic energy, and attenuates peak flood pressure downstream.
Enclosed by 60° modular panels and connected via leveling flap gates, Ponds 2 and 3 allow controlled water transfer, level balancing, and settling prior to agricultural use.
A pumping station supplies retained water for crop irrigation during dry periods, while controlled infiltration through the basin floor recharges the shallow groundwater aquifer.
Captures a controlled share of peak floodwaters, protecting critical infrastructure and riparian communities.
Turns temporary floodwater surplus into an accessible local water reserve for crop irrigation during drought spells.
Slow, controlled percolation through the retention ponds supports the natural replenishment of shallow aquifers.
Uses removable modular panels in low-lying floodplains without permanently removing farmland from production.
The demonstration architecture is designed to validate both the cascade operation of interconnected basins and rapid replicability across other municipalities in the Tisza River Basin:
Located in a municipality in Maramureș County, featuring three interconnected alveoles (intake, balancing, and final retention) and an irrigation pumping station.
Construction of a fourth alveole in another municipality to test local site adaptation, modular assembly, and replication potential.
Adapted and tested across the Tisza River Basin through cooperation among public authorities, water agencies, farmers, researchers, and technology partners.
Agricol Smart Cluster Mireșu Mare is initiating efforts to establish an international consortium, with a view to preparing a project proposal under Horizon Europe, Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.
Collaboration is sought with organizations from the Tisza River Basin and other European regions, particularly:
Organizations interested in contributing to the development of the ALVEOLA-Tisa concept and the establishment of the European consortium are invited to contact Agricol Smart Cluster Mireșu Mare through its official communication channels.
ALVEOLA-Tisa is a project proposal currently under preparation. The technical configuration, demonstration sites, consortium structure, and implementation will be determined based on the results of studies, the necessary approvals and permits, and the securing of funding.