The Environmental Control System consists of 16 complex monitoring stations and 2 surface water monitoring stations, forming a coherent, city-wide system that provides data on our environment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This Environmental Control System guarantees the safety of the citizens of Debrecen!

One of the 50 measures set out in Debrecen's environmental programme, the Green Codex, is the establishment of an Environmental Control System. The project is a strategic partnership between the City of Debrecen, the University of Debrecen and HUN-REN ATOMKI.

The automated information and data collection, information network, analysis and monitoring system, which is unique in the country, is developed by experts and operated and monitored 24 hours a day. It monitors the living environment, surface and ground water, soil and land, air and their changes by means of instrumental observation, continuous sampling and analysis.

To maintain and improve the state of the environment, it is vital to have permanent access to the data needed to monitor and improve it. With this information, it is possible to assess the extent to which environmental systems are exposed, the causes and direction of any changes that may occur and, if necessary, to reverse them in a positive direction.

The Committee responsible for the development of the Environmental Audit Scheme has set up four separate but jointly coordinated, inter-operating, technical working groups to examine the environmental aspects of the key environmental elements, i.e. water, soil, air and biodiversity, and two additional horizontal working groups (IT and Legal and Economic) to support the work of these working groups.

The working groups have identified 16 common reference points where complex measurement stations have been set up. These sites form the core network where all working groups carry out continuous measurements, and two additional surface water monitoring stations have been added to the network.

The scientific programme was set out in a strategic base document, which was presented in December 2023. Subsequently, the implementation phase will include the construction of complex measurement sites, the building 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 a related public information system.