VITUKI was founded in 1952 on the basis of the Hydrologic Institute to perform for the Hungarian Water Management both basic and applied research, as well as studies related to the development, conservation and sound management of water resources of the country. Integrated with the Hungarian Hydrographic Service established in 1886 and supported by hydraulic, hydro machinery, hydro chemical, hydro biological, waste water technological and soil mechanical laboratories; equipment, instrumentation and computer facilities, VITUKI has emerged as one of the most complex water-oriented full-service professional organisations in Europe. At present, there are about 80 highly qualified specialists on the staff, out of the total 230 employees, including civil, chemical, electrical, mechanical engineers, geologists, biologists, mathematicians, geophysicists and agronomists. Close contacts with several scientific institutes in Hungary enable VITUKI to organise multidisciplinary teams for particular projects. VITUKI offers a comprehensive range of research, consulting and engineering services in the following domains through its three institutes:
  I. Institute for Hydrology
- Surveys and investigations on the various types of surface and groundwater
- Observation and gauging network planning for surface, and groundwater monitoring systems, telemetry, remote sensing, computerised data processing, software development for specific data banks, geographical Information systems
- Water resources studies, flood control-, hydropower- and navigation development, follow-up studies
- Short- and long-term hydrological forecasting
  II. Institute for Hydraulic Engineering
- Model and prototype on rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the related structures
- Surveillance of existing structures
- Design, laboratory- and field calibration of measuring weirs, flumes, devices and current meters
- Performance and acceptance tests on hydraulic machines
- Seepage studies
  III. Institute for Water Pollution Control
- Quality surveys and monitoring strategies elaboration
- Sampling programs on conventional and trace pollutants
- Toxicological and hydro biological analyses
- Development of water quality Objectives and Criteria
- Environmental baseline surveys, impact reports, assessments
- Compilation of request for official project permits
- Comprehensive water quality management studies
- Quality assurance - quality control, intercalibration programmes
- National Water Quality Central Laboratory for investigating physical, chemical, hydro biological characteristics and radioactivity
  Support services
- Soil mechanical explorations and testing
- Licensing products, equipment, etc. for use in the Hungarian water industry
- Drafting standard specifications, codes and other regulatory publication for the water sector
- Library and documentation, editorial work
- Organisation of training courses and conferences, study tours