The Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal System in a
Community Setting
Prof. Atila Salvai, Ph. D
Stevan Ilincic, M.Sc.C.E.
Public Water Management Company "VODE VOJVODINE"
Novi Sad, Bulevar Mihajla Pupina 25, Serbia
[email protected], www.vodevojvodine.com
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Introduction
Serbia within the Danube Basin
• The Danube is the second largest river in Europe – after
the Volga
• Serbia covers an area of 88.361 km2, 92% of the country
lies within the Danube Basin
•Vojvodina is the northern province of Serbia (21.506 km2)
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Introduction
Vojvodina area at the end of XVI century
• First water management activities started at the beginning of XVIII century.
• At that period almost 50% of land were ponds and marshes.
• First canal was dug in 1718, in the length of 70 km, for regulation the Begej river.
•Colonisation of Vojvodina started in 1763.
•The need occured for a larger surface of cultivable land and that was the
commencement od drainage of surplus water and construction of canal network.
•This struggle with water lasts continuously to the present days
•DTD Canal system represents the crown of efforts for the arrangement of
water regime in Vojvodina
Integral parts of Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal
System
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
DTD Canal System represents the
multi-functional water management
system. It comprises:
Grand Backa canal
Sombor lock

14 canals of 694,2 km in total length
(with Banat watercourses, DTD
makes the unique hydrotechnical
entirety of 929 km long)

16 locks, 26 sluices and weirs and 5
pumping stations of high capacity.
Dam on Tisa river
Becej pumping station
Description of operation of DTD Canal System
Becej sluice
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Bezdan sluice
Bogojevo pumping station
Novi Sad weir
•
•
Water for Bačka part of DTD hydro system is taken
from the river Danube by free flow through Bezdan
sluice
When the water level in the river Danube is low, the
water is taken by means of the pumping station Bezdan
II and pumping station Bogojevo.
•
The excess water from this part of DTD hydro system
is discharged into the rivers Danube and Tisa by free
flow via the Bečej sluice and Novi Sad weir. In case of
high water levels of the rivers Danube and Tisa the
excess water is overpumped by pumping stations
Description of operation of DTD Canal System
Tomasevac weir
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Novi Becej sluice
Kajtasovo weir
Stajicevo weir
•
•
Water for Banat part of DTD hydro system is
taken by free flow via the Novi Bečej sluice from the
reservoir created by slowing down the course of the
river Tisa by the construction of dam near Novi
Bečej.
The significant part of water into the Banat part of
DTD hydro system is supplied by the river Tamish
and other Banat watercourses, tributaries of DTD
hydrosystem.
•
The excess water from this part of DTD hydro
system is discharged by free flow via :
- the Stajićevo weir into the river Tisa
- the Tomaševac weir and the river Tamish into
the river Danube
- the Kajtasovo weir into the river Danube.
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
DTD Canal System as multi-functional system

Drainage of inland waters
- DTD hydrosystem enables the drainage of soil in the
basin covering the surface of 1.085.000 ha

Flood control
-By the construction of DTD hydrosystem the conditions
of defense against flood on all cut watercourses were
improved. The levels of high waters were lowered, the
time of defense duration was reduced, the necessity for
embankment reconstruction was diminished.

Supply of water for irrigation
-By the construction of new pumping stations, DTD
Canal System provides the sufficient quantity of water
for irrigating about 510.000 ha.

Water supply for fish-ponds, industries
-The fish-ponds covering the surface of more than 5.000
ha are constructed in the vicinity of DTD hydrosystem
net of canals.

Discharge of treated waste waters
-By the project of DTD Canal System it was anticipated
to accept the treated waste waters from the coastal
settlements, industries and to conduct them to the final
recipients of the rivers Danube and Tisa. However, the
waste waters enter insufficiently treated in some canal
sestions.
DTD Canal System as multi-functional system
Navigation
- The canals of DTD enables the navigation of ships
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
of 1000 t carrying capacity with the draught of 1,95
m and the total length of 345 km.
-The network of canals that enables the navigation of
ships of 500 t carrying capacity with draught of 1,8 m
has the total length of 558 km
-All twelve navigational canals of the total length
599,6 km enable the navigation of ships of 200 t
carrying capacity with draught of 1,5 m.
•Tourism and recreational activitie
- The forests besides the canal, grass surfaces,
reed, water-lilly and other half-bog vegetation in
water, willow on canal banks, green surfaces next to
hydrostructures with various decorative trees and
brushwood changed the face of Vojvodina flat with
new colours and shapes. The chain of canals may
be used for swimming, excursions, walks, camping.
Tourist activities at Mali Stapar
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Mali Stapar represents an interesting monument of industrial heritage and a
tourist locality.
The main tourist contents of Mali Stapar are connected with the following:
Lock at Mali Stapar
Old Mill and Management Building
Monument Pannonia
Canal surrounding area
Grand Backa Canal
Tourist activities at Mali Stapar
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
•Tourist destinations on canals with industrial heritage as additional content are attracting more
and more visitors.
• Some of the most important activities that are connected with destination potential of Mali
Stapar are boating, fishing, walking tours, cycling, industrial and cultural heritage.
•Nautical tourism is recognized as one of the strategic forms of tourism in Serbia that requests
investments in their development.
• Kula municipality did the study with the title ,,Plan of detailed regulation of tourist locality Mali
Stapar” where they plan to construct a tourist pier with a nautical club. Moreover, this Plan
includes the construction of boat moorings on locations along the Grand Backa Canal, upstream
and downstream the lock.
DTD Canal System Flotilla
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
Second time in the row, this year also was held regatta on the DTD Canal System organized by
PWMC Vode Vojvodine. 60 boats started 300 km journey which lasted 11 days. Regatta is the best
way to get people closer to sailing these canals and to promote nautical tourism and life on and
around water.
• It is planned that this event become a traditional and recognizable as to reminds every year the
importance of DTD Canal System as a tourist destination that is associated through Danube and
Tisa rivers with inland waterways of 12 European countries from the North to the Black Sea.
DTD Canal System Flotilla
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
A whole series of events organized by local governments for the participants of
the flotilla proved readiness of community to support the development of this sort
of tourism and to provide better, healthier and wealthier life of its citizens.
Walking paths, rest on canal banks,
touristic manifestations
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE HYDRO SYSTEM
Along some canals in DTD Canal
System there are walking paths on
canal bank where you can enjoy
wildlife sceneries.
Dredging works are done on some
canals and new walking paths are
constructed. Now citizens have better
approach to water and opportunity to
enjoy on canal banks.
Growing recognition of
the contribution that
inland waterways make
to touristic development,
economic growth and
the quality of life of the
inhabitants
Walking paths, rest on canal banks,
touristic manifestations
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
If you want to find yourself far away of the city crowded atmosphere visit some places
for rest near canal banks.
Those areas offer excellent possibilities for the organisation of different programmes like
fishing manifestations, art colonies and ecological and other manifestations.
The vision of the restoration the Bezdan Lock
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
•
When the lock was opened in 1856 the memorial tablet was placed with the
text in Latin, which translates as follows: "This ship lock was constructed
during the reign of emperor Franz Joseph. The only one in Europe made of
concrete and under the auspices of the trade ministry the knight I of Togenburgh
the governor of Cronenberg Corona Community. It was constructed under the
supervision of an inspector Johan Mihalik from 1855 to 1856".
The vision of the restoration the Bezdan Lock
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
•Bezdan lock is located on the connection Vrbas-Bezdan Canal
("the Great Backa Canal'') with the Danube.
•Lock is not in use since 1988.
•Re-opening of the locks will allow the linking of inland waterways in this
part of Serbia with the Danube and allow entry of ships in the DTD Canal
System
•Re-opening of Bezdan Lock gives an opportunity to
boost the socio - econonomic development of inland
waterways and adjacent areas with the aim of
enhancing the quality of life of its citizens
WCC in Serbia in 2009.
DANUBE-TISA-DANUBE CANAL SYSTEM
The World Canals Conference which took place in Serbia last year improved
awareness and understanding on possibilities offered by the development of
inland waterways in Serbia and encourage the initiatives relating to the
promotion of this economy sector.
Thank you for your attention
The Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal System in the Community Setting:
Challenges and Opportunities
Stevan Ilincic, , Assistant Director & Atila Salvai, Ph.D., PWMC Vode Vojvodine, 21000 Novi
Sad, Vojvodina, SERBIA
[email protected]
www.vodevojvodine.rs
The Danube-Tisa-Danube Canal System (the DTD Canal System) represents the multifunctional water management system whose task is the complex arrangement of waters in the
covering area. The DTD Canal System with its fourteen canals of 694 km total length changed
the geographical, economic and social picture of Vojvodina region in Serbia and set the
favourable conditions for socio-economic development. DTD hydrosystem comprises the total
47 structures such as: 16 locks, 26 weirs and sluices and 5 big pumping stations. The largest
structure is the dam on the river Tisa near Novi Be?ej.
Water for the DTD Canal System is taken from the river Danube and the river Tisa by free flow
and also through pumping stations. Water taken together with the accepted internal waters of
their own basin is distributed by regulating weirs and sluices according to the users needs.
As multi-functional system, the DTD Canal System serves for: drainage, flood protection, water
supply for agriculture and industrie, discharge of waste water, navigation, tourism and
recreational activities. After thirty years of his completeness the DTD Canal System fulfils
drainage and flood protection functions entirely.
The 14 canals of DTD Canal System goes through almost every bigger place in Vojvodina
region or its vicinity. Those inland waterways still retain a significant transport function.
However there is now a growing recognition of the contribution that inland waterways make to
tourism development, sustainable transport, economic growth and the quality of life of the
inhabitants in adjacent regions. One of the objective of PWMC Vode Vojvodine is to improve
the management of the waterways of the DTD Canal System by promoting an integrated,
sustainable and participatory approach, taking account of the multi-functional role of waterways.
Today in the DTD Canal System there are several inspirational projects and visions which
command our attention. They are:
1. The restoration of Mali Stapar area (dredging works on canal, heritage conservation of the old
mill, construction of a pier and walking path near the canal).
2. Dredging works on canals and construction of walking paths in towns Kula, Novi Sad and
Vrsac.
3. The vision of the restoration the old Bezdan Lock.
Each of these projects present challenges and opportunities to boost the socio-econonomic
development of inland waterways and adjacent areas with the aim of enhancing the quality of life
of its citizens.
Stevan Ilincic was born in Sombor, Serbia, in 1966. He graduated on Faculty of Civil
Engineering in Belgrade in 1993. He worked in Sombor in a company for engineering and
designing from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 until now he is working in Public Water Management
Company Vode Vojvodine. From 2005 he has been working at the position of assistant director
for HS DTD managing companies largest department with more than 250 employees. Very
complex department structure and duties includes separate units in charge for functioning and
maintaining Danube Tisa Danube canals network.
Mr Ilincic is actively involved in international projects as Waterways forward, also he is a key
person for experience oriented and promotional publications and activities:
- World Canals Conference in Serbia in 2009, chairman
- Vode Vojvodine regatta on Hs DTD, organising committee
- "Hydro system Danube-Tisa-Danube- The book of treasures", Novi Sad, 2008
- "Vode Vojvodine, investments and projects, 2009", Novi Sad, 2010
In the behalf of Vode Vojvodine he was involved in many international and national
conferences. Ministry of environment protection appointed him in national working group for the
project Final solution of Grand Backa canal pollution.
He is married and has two children