Innovative stormwater system in Malmö

in

fo

r

m

at

io

n

fa

ct

s

information facts

beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS wATer And SewAGe LIP – LOCAL InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMeS JAnUArY 2010

Photograph: daniel Skog

Innovative stormwater system

in Malmö

In the eco-district of Augustenborg, the City of Malmö has constructed an open stormwa-ter system that collects and treats rainwastormwa-ter. The recurrent floods are now a thing of the past, and the load on the sewage treatment plant downstream has decreased.

The open stormwater system in Augustenborg is a good example of how rethink-ing and innovative solutions can complement existing technology and provide several environmental gains. This action has reduced the floods and the load on the sewage treatment plant, and has led to greater biodiversity in the outdoor environment

With support from the local investment programme (LIP), the sewage treat-ment plant and the Malmö municipality housing company (MKB) in 1999–2006 created a stormwater system with trenches, channels and ponds to deal with flooding in the district of Augustenborg. Another aim was to find new ways of managing stormwater in the urban environment through the development of knowledge and products, including trenches, channels and ponds.

PositiVE EnVironmEntaL anD Economic imPacts

• Approximately 60% lower energy use in the treatment plant (27,000 KWh). • Reduced load on the receiving body of water.

• Reduced problems with flooding.

swedish EPa Se-106 48 Stockholm. Visiting address: Stockholm – Valhallavägen 195, Östersund – Forskarens väg 5 hus Ub, Kiruna – Kaserngatan 14.

Tel: +46 10 698 10 00, fax: +46 10 698 10 99, e-mail: registrator@swedishepa.se Internet: www.swedishepa.se orders Ordertel: +46 8 505 933 40,

orderfax: +46 8 505 933 99, e-mail: natur@cm.se Address: CM Gruppen, box 110 93, Se-161 11 bromma. Internet: www.swedishepa.se/publications

information facts

beST PrACTICe eXAMPLeS wATer And SewAGe LIP – LOCAL InVeSTMenT PrOGrAMMeS JAnUArY 2010 ISbn: 978-91-620-8550-6

imPLEmEntation

Stormwater is dealt with or delayed within the area instead of being conveyed directly to the sewage treatment plant. The project covers a whole urban district and a number of innovative solutions such as green roofs, discharging into chan-nels, ditches lined with vegetation, holding of the water in ponds, reservoirs below the playing field and an amphitheatre used to delay the water in extreme weather conditions.

There has been regular consultation with the residents and technical admin-istrations, and the residents have been able to influence the design of the system. An important conclusion that has been drawn is that it is not possible to force this type of project. Sufficient time is required to allow an active dialogue to take place with the residence and give them a certain degree of control and influence on implementation.

PotEntiaL anD fUtUrE BEnEfit

Environmentally sound stormwater and wastewater systems are an important ele-ment in the infrastructure of the sustainable city. Local manageele-ment of stormwater reduces the load on the central municipal sewage treatment plants. Biological and technical system solutions can complement one another to create cost-effective solutions with good environmental effects. Developing and testing new system solutions contributes towards developing the sustainability of cities. The storm-water system in Augustenborg shows how a city can deal with rainfall and avoid floods caused by climate change.

whY beST PrACTICe

The action leads to reduced load on the receiving body of water, reduced energy use in the sewage treat-ment plant and greater biodiversity. The project covers a whole district and contains a number of innova-tive solutions: green roofs, discharging into channels, ditches lined with vegetation, holding in ponds etc. The action has led to adoption of the technique locally in Malmö. Similar systems are being built in the industrial area of Västra hamnen and will probably be used in other areas that experience problems with floods similar to those that previously affected Augustenborg.

A large number of study visits, from both within Sweden and abroad, have been received over the years. The number of visits is still increasing, more than ten years after the project was launched. The project has led to the establishment of a company in the area of water innovation which is now one of Malmö’s potential growth companies in the area of CleanTech.

FOr FUrTher InFOrMATIOn Contact Ulf Thysell, +46 (0)40-635 10 00, ulf.thysell@vasyd.se Trevor Graham, +46 (0)40-34 58 96, trevor.graham@malmo.se Contractors

ISS Landscaping, Tomas Leidstedt, +46 (0)709-81 33 42

watreco Ab, Morten Ovesen, +46 (0)739-22 49 80

website:

www.malmo.se/sustainablecity For further information on best Practice www.swedishepa.se/bestpractice www.naturvardsverket.se/mir FACTS

LIP Malmö 1998 Action no 1.2

environmental investment: SeK 10.1m Grant: SeK 2.2m