Until 1978, there was only one water management organization operating in this region — the Water Management Organization "Gornji Banat," headquartered in Kikinda. After 1978, a new organization was established: the Water Management Organization "Basic Canal Network" (OKM), based in Novi Sad.
Both organizations maintained operational units in Novi Bečej, which initially took over the constructed facilities of the basic canal network and later managed their maintenance and water regime regulation.
The significance of the year 1963 lies primarily in the initiative to unify the approach to solving water management issues across Bačka and Banat, and later Srem as well. This direction led to the integration of local water communities into the Directorate for the Construction of the Danube–Tisza–Danube (DTD) Hydrosystem, headquartered in Novi Sad.
To answer the question “What is the Danube–Tisza–Danube Hydrosystem?” — it represents one of the largest human undertakings, and due to its multiple purposes, it is considered unique in the world. The waters of the Hydrosystem serve a wide range of functions: drainage, flood protection, irrigation, fishery, industrial water supply, wastewater acceptance, navigation, forestry, tourism and recreation, and exploitation of hydroenergetic potential.
From a technical standpoint, the Hydrosystem comprises a network of large canals that cut across the plains of Bačka and Banat. Along with hydraulic structures, these canals form the Basic Canal Network (OKM). Local drainage and irrigation systems — detailed canals — are connected to these main canals.
The conceptual importance of the DTD Hydrosystem lies in the fact that the main canals were constructed along the lowest terrain lines, entering into the groundwater zones. This resulted in the creation of wide and deep channels that can drain surface water by gravity. Additionally, the dense distribution of the primary canals significantly reduces the length of local drainage canals, thus improving drainage conditions.
Under the new economic conditions, the Hydrosystem included the following water management organizations, as previously mentioned:
- Water Management Organization "Gornji Banat," Kikinda (1963–1995)
- Water Management Organization "Basic Canal Network," Novi Sad (1978–1995)
Since 1978, the work of these two organizations has partially overlapped, although their overall business strategy remained unified.
The following section outlines the development path of the water management organization up to the present day.
Eng. Nikola Mirkov, conceptual creator of the Danube–Tisza–Danube Hydrosystem
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