Abstract: Excess water induced inundation is a specific feature of the Hungarian Lowland. This type of flooding is associated with considerable damage in agriculture, in urbanised area and in transport infrastructure. The protection against excess water steadily has received similar importance as protection against fluvial floods. The experience of recent years suggest that excess water defence systems consisting drainage canal networks, hydraulic structures, pumping stations and reservoirs do not need contemporary requirements. Water management and land use planning need a new strategy, while in the process planning and decision making application of state of the art excess water hazard maps should play an important role. EU- Flood Management Directive underlines the necessity to compile flood hazard maps including regions with excess water induced inundation.
Key words: excess water, inundation, flood hazard mapping, flood protection, flood management