Related EU Projects

The “(D)rain for life” project had two main objectives:

1) Develop four specific adapted SUDS solutions for local communities in the local setting of EstLat programme area;

2) Increase understanding, knowledge and experience with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems in Estonia and Latvia for local communities and a range of stakeholder groups.

The SUDS solutions within the project were developed in the towns of Baldone and Riga in Latvia and Parnu and Võru in Estonia.

http://drainforlife.eu/attachments/article/64/DFL%20SUDS%20Handbook%20final.pdf

LIFE AERFIT aims to demonstrate an innovative adaptation technology to prevent damage from urban pluvial flooding. The main objective is to prove that FHVI is an effective adaptation strategy. In this regard, through the project’s actions and applications, the two main objectives are:

•To provide sound evidence of the effectiveness of FHVI to deal with extreme rainfall, as well as its wide applicability (i.e. replicability) and favourable implementation costs; and

•To disseminate the results and the applicability potential of the project to authorities and professionals throughout the EU.

Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results:

•A successful demonstration of the FHVI technique as a cost-effective adaptation strategy for climate change (extreme rainfall) and prevention of damage from pluvial flooding in urban areas;

•A reduction of frequency, duration and level of flooding events in Putten, the target being no water on the street at peak precipitation levels of a T10 event corresponding to a total quantity of 36 mm per hour;

•Improved quality of effluent at the wastewater treatment plant;

•Reduction of 5 200 m3/yr of discharge of excessive, untreated mixed rain and sewer water;

•Prevention of desiccation, through 46 800 m3/yr of water added to groundwater reserves;

•Resilience to spills (key in this respect is that a spill in a FHVI infiltration well can be ‘reversed’, i.e. used to pump back spills that penetrated the groundwater);

•Dissemination of project and monitoring results to stakeholders and target audiences;

•Creation of interest of at least 10 other European cities and municipalities to implement the FHVI technique to adapt to climate change; and

•Provision of a blueprint, facilitating rapid replication and transferability to other European cities and municipalities.

The main expected results of this project are as follows:

•Development of the UrbanProof toolkit, a web-based platform and decision-support tool for urban adaptation planning and community-based participation;

•Production of a toolkit administrator guide and tutorial video;

•Evaluation of the technical and economic viability of the toolkit;

•Identification and assessment of the likely impacts of climate change on the partner municipalities in Cyprus, Greece and Italy and development of local adaptation strategies for these municipalities;

•Endorsement by the municipalities of these strategies (local council approval);

•Implementation of green infrastructure projects in partner municipalities in Cyprus and Italy. These include green spaces, green roofs and permeable pavements in Strovolos, Lakatamia and Emilia. The expected impact of these measures is quantified as follows: Green roofs: runoff reduction of 38%; reduction of annual energy demand for heating/cooling by 7.9kW/m2/yr, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 4.3kg CO2 equivalent, reduction of ambient air temperature by 1°C; permeable pavements: runoff reduction of 20-30%, reduction of ambient air temperature by 1.5°C; greening areas: runoff reduction of 23-34%; urban agricultural gardens: runoff reduction of 10-50%; and

•Dissemination activities throughout the project’s lifespan to raise awareness of the project and its potential for replicability, including events, training seminars, a scientific conference and technical and scientific publications.

LIFE DrainRain is to mitigate the environmental impact of runoff in water bodies (coastal, surface and ground waters). Currently, SUDS only drain runoff water and care needs to be exercised, as infiltration-type SUDS technology may pose a high pollution risk for groundwater bodies. The project takes this approach a step further, by coupling SUDS to treatment systems for diffuse pollution, especially making use of photocatalysts in pavements.

The pilot runoff sustainable drainage and treatment system will consist of several components:

•A pervious concrete photocatalytic pavement with organic pollutants first treated on the concrete’s surface by the photocatalyst Titanium Dioxide;

•A drainage and distribution system in which water is collected by pipes made from anti-microbial materials;

•A hydrodynamic separator that utilises centrifugal energy generated by the water flowing inside to separate suspended solids and oils (SS);

•A filter that comes after the complete retention of SS by a pre-filter to avoid clogging, heavy metals will be removed by adsorption on support materials, such as activated carbon and lignite; and

•An anti-biofouling storage tank, which has been constructed using anti-biofouling high-density polyethylene (HDPE), for storing the regenerated water in a way that ensures microbiological quality.

The project will demonstrate the system in two pilot plants in Spain with different climates (Oceanic and Mediterranean) to promote its wider replication. One area is 900 m2 of pervious concrete surface area in the seaport of Ferrol (Galicia) and the other in Calasparra (Murcia) covers 150 m2 of road hard shoulder.

The CoSuDS project aimed at promoting the transition towards smart stormwater management from a collaborative perspective, bridging the gap between pilot implementation to long-term city strategy. The project co-developed a “CoSuDS Toolbox” used for defining transition pathways in cities, being applied at district level for a city in Spain and integrating multiple actors in the process through collaborative charrettes.

The CoSuDS project analysed alternatives at district scale in Castellón (approx. 170,000 inhabitants, medium-sized city in Eastern Spain) and provided local authorities with outcomes to make informed decisions in terms of energy efficiency, sustainability and risk mitigation, guiding their transition towards improved stormwater governance.

The CoSuDS project undertook collaborative charrettes involving all actors concerning urban development. (A charrette is an intensive planning session where local government, citizens, designers and other stakeholders collaborate for establishing solutions to a given challenge. It provides a forum for ideas, giving feedback to the designers.)

The CoSuDS project covered interactions among three subsystems: water (flood and pollution risks reduction and water efficiency), energy (reducing energy consumption in buildings and the urban water cycle) and built environment (providing additional social and environmental benefits).

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/CKIC_COSUDS/CoSuDS_Final%20Report.pdf

Water and wastewater facilities frequently represent the largest and most energy intensive loads owned and operated by water utilities, representing up to 35% of municipal energy use. The E²STORMED project aims to improve water management and energy efficiency in the urban water cycle and in buildings by promoting the use of innovative storm water solutions such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in six Mediterranean cities.

To meet this objective, E²STORMED has developed a Decision Support Tool (DST) to include energy efficiency and environmental criteria in urban storm water management decisions. The DST has been developed using the six cities to compare and evaluate different scenarios of combining conventional and SuDS drainage systems. The results of applying this tool allow more sustainable, informed and objective storm water management.

The use of the E²STORMED DST will encourage the construction of Sustainable Drainage System. The E²STORMED provides help to estimate the construction and maintenance costs of these infrastructures. According to the results obtained in the six pilot cities of the E²STORMED project, the costs of the SuDS scenarios is similar to the conventional scenarios, so in most of the cases, new resources are not needed for storm water management. Although, the SuDS scenarios have clear benefits for the energy efficiency and the urban ecosystems.

In order to encourage this change in the storm water management, local and regional stakeholders related with water and energy management can be engaged in this decision process through meetings and working groups, as explained in the E²STORMED Transition Manual.

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/E-STORMED-Decision-Support-Tool.exe

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.3E.03%20Decision%20Support%20Tool%20Guidelines.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.3B.01%20Report%20on%20stormwater%20management.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.3C.01%20Report%20on%20management%20and%20decision%20asessement%20tools.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.3A.01%20Report%20on%20energy%20in%20the%20urban%20water%20cycle.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.3C.01%20Report%20on%20ecosystem%20services.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.4A.02%20Report%20of%20the%20DST%20application/3.%20Report%20about%20DST%20application%20-%20Malta.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.4A.03%20Strategic%20Action%20Plans/3.%20Strategic%20Action%20Plan%20Malta.pdf

https://www.iiama.upv.es/iiama/src/elementos/Proyectos/e2stormed/D.4A.04%20Transition%20Manuals/3.%20Transition%20Manual%20Malta.pdf

The project successfully presented solutions for addressing the runoff from drained areas that previously caused environmental damage by discharging pollutants and by the physical impact of higher flows. The project’s six SUDS demonstration sites in Xativa and Benaguasil, where these solutions were applied, showcased for southern European regions the development of a sustainable drainage culture. A key project output was providing demonstrated protocols for new and sustainable storm water management at the urban scale in Mediterranean municipalities.

The project demonstrated the value of SUDS in reducing electricity consumption, and therefore CO2 emissions, through urban water management and on buildings (e.g. green roofs). Water and wastewater facilities are some of largest and most energy-intensive installations owned and operated by local governments, representing up to 35% of municipal energy use. SUDS can reduce energy consumption by, for instance, reducing the inflow of storm water into sewer systems and hence the energy consumed in the treatment and pumping of wastewater; reducing local “heat islands” through shading of building surfaces to lessen cooling and heating demand; and saving on the use of drinking water by using rainwater for irrigation and street cleaning.

Importantly, the AQUAVAL project led to the SUDS approach being explicitly supported by regional policy, in particular, the regional flooding legislation PATRICOVA (November 2013). The regulation states that, in regards of storm water management: “The use of SUDS will be promoted in all municipalities within the Region of Valencia”.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showFile&rep=file&fil=AQUAVAL_Factsheet_EN.pdf

GRACC can be considered as a reasonably successful project having developed the first UK specific code of best practice for green roofs, together with supporting documents, and demonstrated effective engagement of a national body representing the roofing industry. The project’s work should support the use of green roofs which can be expected to reduce flash flood events. However, the project was unable to complete the development of a Supplementary Planning Document for local authorities or a pan-European green roof code for reasons largely out of its control.

The project successfully developed a UK-specific Code for Green Roofs. The Code sets out minimum standards for the specification of green roofs that will help to address climate change. It specifies that the depth of substrate material used should be at least 80mm. This is essential to ensure sufficient water retention to help reduce temperatures in urban environments, reduce the heating and cooling needs of buildings and provide increased biodiversity value.

The project worked successfully to engage the key stakeholders – particularly the roof contracting industry, but also local authorities and other government agencies - effectively in the elaboration of the Code. This should improve longer term acceptance and use of the Code and also helped raise awareness of the Code and green roofs more generally.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showFile&rep=file&fil=GRO_Green_Roof_Code.pdf

http://www.greenroofguide.co.uk/

The overall aims involved in the construction of the demonstration facility for green roof installations have been completed. The sustainability of such roofs in the Scandinavian climate conditions has been verified. Research work has been completed and other work is still in the initial stages, confirming the various environmental benefits of the green roof installations. Expectations prior to carrying out the project have been met:

- Green roofs ensure considerable reduction of the storm water run-off. The system is anticipated to serve an important storm water management role by markedly decreasing storm water flow peaks and reducing problems of local flooding. Green roofs provide a significant water regulation effect during rainfall events. Up to 60 % of the yearly precipitation can be managed in-situ and returned to the atmospheric hydrological cycle through evaporation and transportation.

- Significant energy savings for heating can be achieved. Extensive green roofing is anticipated to reduce the overall energy consumption of the buildings through improvement of the roof’s thermal insulation and provision of active summer cooling through evaporation and transpiration effects.

- Wider biodiversity in urban environment can be achieved. The green roofs have the potential to increase biodiversity and reduce noise in the area. Roof greening is in addition anticipated to extend the useful life of the roof providing for material and cost savings in roof maintenance or replacement. The green roof area of 9 500 square meters is still maintained by the beneficiary and is expected to last for several decades.

LIFE CERSUDS is a demonstration project that puts into practice, evaluates and publicises Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in a context in which these systems are new or little known. In addition, it innovates by using ceramic material with a low commercial value in the development of permeable paving, being easily replicated in similar geo-economic areas.

The project’s main aim is improving cities’ abilities to adapt to climate change and promoting the use of green infrastructures in their urban planning through the development and implementation of a demonstrator consisting of a SuDS with low carbon emissions for the refurbishing of urban areas. The demonstrator’s permeable skin will be made up of an innovative system, which has a low environmental impact, based on the use of ceramic tiles with a low commercial value. This demonstrator will be sufficiently large in order to validate its technical and economic viability.

The project was approved in October 2016 by the European Commission in the LIFE programme and is expected to end in 2019. Currently, work is being done on developing the system and the implementation project, so that this presentation will present the project plan and the laboratory results of the ceramic system. This project is financed by the European Union Programme for the Environment and Climate Action LIFE 2014-2020 with reference LIFE15 CCA/ES/000091.

http://lifecersuds.eu/en/descarga-suscripcion/LIFE%20

CERSUDS.%20CERAMIC%20SUSTAINABLE%20URBAN%20DRAINAGE%20SYSTEM.pdf