Congress Agenda

The following topics will be addressed during the presentation:

• the importance of ecosystems in the catchment as a system for stabilising the hydrological cycle,
• using water-biocenoses interactions to develop innovative near-nature methods and system solutions - Ecohydrology,
• priorities of the United Nations International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO) and the European Commission's 'Water4All' mega-programme,
• new methodology and new methods in catchment management (IWRM) for eliminating the risks of floods and droughts,
• water as a key factor in maximising opportunities for sustainable development - Conclusions of the UN World Conference NY 2023.

EU environmental legislation makes risk assessment mandatory. The new Wastewater Directive imposes the need for risk assessment in the context of rainwater and wastewater pollution and its impact on human health and the environment. It is therefore necessary to debate the details of the analyses for both rainwater and urban wastewater management.

The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management is financing climate change adaptation tasks from both national and EU funds. In the new financial perspective, NFOSiGW will allocate PLN 7 billion until 2027 under the FEnIKS and FEPW program to support small and large-scale retention. The program will support investments in, among other things, flood risk management, so-called green-blue infrastructure, i.e. mitigation of the effects of "concreting," rainwater reservoirs, prevention of the effects of floods and drought, greening and renaturalization of water reservoirs. Funding will also be available for the construction of monitoring, forecasting and warning systems, or the creation of municipal climate change adaptation plans.

a. The prohibition on including the cost of rainwater discharge in the calculation of tariffs,
b. Implications of the ruling for water and sewerage companies and municipalities,
c. impact on the price of collective sewage disposal.

Skuteczne zarządzanie systemem zagospodarowania wód opadowych opartym na retencji zależy od współpracy wszystkich interesariuszy, nie tylko urzędów miast czy przedsiębiorstw wodociągowych. Systemowe wdrażanie retencji opartej na naturze, które angażuje deweloperów, przemysł, instytucje publiczne oraz indywidualnych mieszkańców, stanowi najskuteczniejszy model polityki adaptacyjnej. Oferuje ono długoterminowe i trwałe rozwiązania, które ewoluują wraz ze zmianami klimatu. Podczas prelekcji zatytułowanej „Polityka zagospodarowania wód opadowych na terenach prywatnych w Gdańsku – relacje z inwestorami” opowiem o modelu przyjętym w Gdańsku, barierach napotkanych na początku oraz tych, które pojawiły się po kilku latach wdrażania Gdańskiej Polityki Małej Retencji.

"Zielonogórskie Wodociągi i Kanalizacja" Sp. z o.o. from 2019 to 2023 implemented the Project entitled: "Upgrading rainwater management in the area of the Zielona Góra Agglomeration - Stage I", co-financed by the Cohesion Fund, under OPIE 2014-2020.
The total value of the Project was more than PLN 66 million (including VAT), and the amount of EU support was more than PLN 45 million, accounting for 85% of the Project value.
The Project included 14 tasks for works, thanks to the implementation of which the following material effects were achieved:

• constructed storm sewer system with a length of about 6.70 km,
• renovated storm sewers with a length of about 2.52 km,
• constructed retention and infiltration tanks - 5 pieces,
• built-in 8 separators for treating rainwater,
• Powierzchnia objęta systemem zagospodarowania wód opadowych - 3,49 km2.

In August this year. Zielona Góra Waterworks signed an agreement with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) to subsidize the Project "Arrangement of rainwater management at Zjednoczenia Street in Zielona Góra" under measure FENX.01.02 Adaptation of urbanized areas to climate change.
The planned total value of the Project is over PLN 3 million, and the planned amount of support from the EU is almost PLN 2 million.
The project includes the construction of a rainwater drainage system with retention and seepage tanks, unsealing of an internal road and adaptation of existing green areas into landscaped green spaces with landscaping elements.
The paper will also address the issue of water supply companies' responsibilities for managing rainwater and snowmelt.

Climate change is also inevitably knocking on the door of single-family homes. Watering backyard lawns and flowerbeds due to the increasingly prolonged high temperatures can start to become costly. It is also not the best solution to ‘waste’ treated water for consumption. So, let's build rainwater tanks - let's reuse rainwater - let's keep the water where it fell. And here comes the first fundamental question - is it worth it?

After the implementation of the project "Construction and reconstruction of the stormwater drainage system and adaptation of the stormwater drainage network to climate change in the city of Bydgoszcz," which is the first stage of adapting the stormwater drainage system to the radically changing climate and increasing the city's resilience to progressive change, it has become clear that the sponge city concept has worked. It is already benefiting Bydgoszcz residents, so it will be continued through the Phase II project. Hence the creation of the project "Green-Blue Bydgoszcz. Retention and management of rainwater or snowmelt," which is intended to lead to the retention of rainwater in urban areas
and its management for, among other things, irrigation of greenery. This will eliminate problems with maintaining urban vegetation and make the city resilient to climate change. The project "Bydgoszcz green and blue..." has been evaluated by the National Environmental Protection Fund and has received funding under the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment 2021 - 2027 (FEnIKS) program."

The reconstruction of Krupnicza Street in Kraków, completed in May last year, is an example of innovative green retention solutions that could become a model for other urban projects. The historic street gained a new face thanks to the planting of 39 trees (bird cherry and black alder), the introduction of thousands of shrubs and perennials, and the installation of rainwater tanks. The project includes rain gardens, which not only slow down the run-off of water, but also retain it, reducing the load on the city's sewer system. The woonerf concept, with traffic calmed and shared space for pedestrians and cars, combined with green infrastructure, helped to create a welcoming urban space. The redevelopment also included the installation of urban furniture, car parks and information boards highlighting the historical significance of the street.

Another example of green retention in the completed investments of the Urban Greenery Management Board in Krakow is the Wisława Szymborska Park, opened last year. The park, located in a 19th-century development at the back of the former Francis Joseph barracks, combines historical values with modern solutions of green and blue infrastructure. The park is an oasis of relaxation and contemplation, designed as a sequence of interpenetrating garden interiors, with a unique selection of plants and space tailored to the needs of different social groups. The park includes a retention area for water collected from the roof of the Provincial Library next door, and a system of reservoirs with residing water treated by a hydrophytic treatment plant, which is also one of the park's attractions.

The well-known ‘Gardens of the Cracovians’ project, implemented by the Board of Urban Greenery, aims to create small, friendly green spaces in urban areas. In Krakow, 44 such spaces with a total area of about 12 ha have been realised in recent years. Like the Krakow Gardens project, the plan for creating green retention is to implement numerous small-scale solutions throughout the city, thus achieving economies of scale and significantly improving rainwater management. At the same time, we are looking at the potential for larger projects in which green retention will become the primary rainwater harvesting system, especially during heavy rainfall. This comprehensive approach will allow us to apply for infrastructure funding from European Union programmes such as the Fenix programme, thus supporting the development of green and blue infrastructure in Krakow. The update of the Directions for the Development and Management of Green Areas in Krakow for 2019-2030 includes the mapping of retention potential and the setting of water retention tasks.

Green retention in Krakow, through innovative projects such as those at Krupnicza Street and Szymborska Park, not only improves the quality of life for residents, but also responds to the challenges of climate change. Through a sustainable approach that integrates green infrastructure into the urban landscape, Krakow is becoming an example of modern urban water management.

‘Disposing’ of rainwater during heavy rainfall, without having to put it into the sewer system, is a key issue when we talk about adapting cities to climate change. The second issue is its use during dry periods. Through the use of technical solutions such as blue-green retention roofs or systems that facilitate the growth of tree roots under sealed, traffic-laden pavements, we gain the ability to maintain an adequate level of rainwater balance in a closed loop, as well as supporting greenery, which has a significant impact on people's health and quality of life.

In Poland, we can distinguish three main categories of water problems: water scarcity, periodic excess of rainwater and snowmelt, and water pollution. For several years we have been facing the problem of dwindling water resources, the quality of which leaves much to be desired. The condition of surface water is bad, and in some places even alarming. Periodic increases in rainwater due to heavy rains and storms resulting from climate change are not improving our water balance. On the contrary, over-dried soil does not retain water, and rapid runoff exposes cities and municipalities to flooding, soil erosion and increased pollution of surface waters into which pollutants are washed from the land surface.
The Stormwise system is a range of innovative, compatible and scalable solutions designed to increase the resilience of cities and municipalities to the negative effects of extreme weather events, such as torrential rains and droughts. Stormwise products and equipment enable the collection of excess rainwater, its treatment and reuse. Stormwise helps treat rainwater not as a source of problems, but as a resource to be used.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

The challenge of the 21st century is rainwater management. Sudden downpours can lead to localised flooding. Especially in the city, where most of the pavement is sealed and does not allow rainwater to seep naturally into the ground. After months of work, Poznan residents and tourists can walk on the renewed pavement. It is worth paying attention to the installations invisible to the eyes, i.e. those that have been placed under the surface of the pavement. In the course of the paper, it will be possible to find out, among other things, what design challenges the HAURATON team faced in relation to rainwater management and how they were dealt with.

With the increasing effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, heat waves and more frequent and intense flooding, the role of modern geotechnical solutions is becoming crucial. The presentation provides an overview of innovative designs and technologies used in water retention and flood safety. It discusses the use of modern infrastructure systems, such as rain gardens and flood barriers, which effectively increase rainwater retention. Special attention was given to Pietrucha's retention solutions, including the use of vinyl walls, which offer sustainable and effective methods of groundwater management and flood protection. The presentation discussed projects completed in various parts of Poland, among others, in Biezanow and Zlotyn, and in Szczecin, where a system of thresholds and retention levees was installed. Examples of rain gardens in Gdansk and flood barriers on the Hel Coast in Warsaw are also presented. In addition, retention reservoirs in Poznań and Ełk are described. The presentation underscores the importance of an integrated approach in urban planning, which combines traditional methods with modern technologies to effectively address the effects of climate change.

The last few years have seen an unprecedented number of extreme floods and disasters of dam structures, including large dams, around the world, including in Europe. This is an issue that is directly linked to climate change and the ageing of numerous hydraulic structures in each country that has them. In this context, ensuring that damming structures are in an adequate state of safety and maintenance is a major organisational and financial challenge even in highly developed countries. This difficult problem also affects Poland. The lecture will present the latest data on the condition of damming structures (dams, dykes, canal embankments) in Poland and compare it with data from around the world. Associated risks and challenges will be discussed, including risks of non-functionality of entire systems and groups of facilities in Poland. Methods implemented worldwide to minimise risks and optimise maintenance costs of damming structures will be shown.

The issue under discussion concerns the hydrological and hydraulic consequences associated with the transformation of the hydrographic network in areas undergoing urbanisation. Changes to the river system in selected cities over the last few centuries were analysed.

RZGW in Krakow carries out a number of investment and maintenance tasks, as well as projects aimed at improving the environment. In all our activities, we strive to adhere to the highest environmental standards. Our investments are carried out under naturalistic supervision. Constant monitoring of the construction process prevents possible damage to the environment. We obtain all environmental approvals well in advance. In carrying out our tasks, we collaborate with various communities, including the environmental community. The cooperation is based on the exchange of experience, co-creation of projects, substantive support. Good examples of such cooperation are the investments already made in the Malinówka dry reservoir or the modernisation of the flood embankments in Krakow. More joint projects lie ahead, such as the renaturalisation of the Dłubnia River or the flood protection of the Prądnik catchment area.

Mobile pumps are a key tool in flood relief operations, enabling flooded areas to be drained quickly and efficiently. Thanks to their mobility, they can be quickly transported to areas most at risk of flooding. Tractor shaft-driven solutions - mobile tractor pumps - are able to reach even hard-to-reach areas. The high capacity of these pumps allows large volumes of water to be pumped in a short time, which is extremely important in emergency situations. They can be used in both agricultural and urban areas, adding to their versatility. They are relatively simple to operate, allowing them to be deployed quickly even by less experienced staff. They work reliably for long periods of time, which is crucial during prolonged rescue operations. Thanks to their efficiency and ease of use, mobile tractor pumps are indispensable in emergency management. They are the foundation of effective flood control measures, minimising damage and protecting property and human life.

The use of AUMA electric actuators to control gates, locks, weirs or levees on hydrotechnical facilities. Control along with full signaling and control of hydrotechnical facilities. Electric actuators are an ecological alternative to hydraulic actuators and an improvement to solutions controlled by human power.