Århus, Denmark
City population: 308508
Duration: 2013 – 2020
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Other
Last updated: October 2021

A significant expansion of the summer water level in the biggest local natural river, Giber River, was carried out in Aarhus. The increase in water flow in Giber River was achieved by a range of different measures, such as pumping purified wastewater into the river and building a string of rainwater collection ponds that will be allowed to slowly drain into the river. (Ref. 1)

Giber Å (Ref. 1)
Giber Å (Ref. 1)

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Lakes/ponds
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

"A cohesive approach combines rationalisation of sewage plants with richer fauna in the biggest natural river in Aarhus." "The project will be a bonus for the environment, through rationalisation bringing major savings in running costs, because the increase in minimum water flow will improve the water quality in the river, creating better conditions for more fish to the benefit of anglers and the balance of nature. The river will also be ensured water volume and quality which will fulfil local environmental objectives and the expected high environmental objective for Giber River in the national water plan." (Ref. 1)

Implementation activities

The increase in water flow in Giber River will be achieved by a range of different measures, such as pumping purified waste water into the river and building a string of rainwater collection ponds which will be allowed to slowly drain into the river. (Ref. 1) A measuring station at the top of the river measures when flow drops below 100 litres per second. If it does, water will be added from natural groundwater tributaries, stored rainwater and purified waste water from the return pump. (Ref. 4)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
  • Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect native species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

  • National-level government
  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Other

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

A proposal made by the City Council for the Waste Water Plan 2013-2016 (for a significant expansion of the summer water level in the biggest local natural river, Giber River). (Ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (The Giber river will be ensured water volume and quality which will fulfil the expected high environmental objective for Giber River in the national water plan. (Ref. 1))
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The river will be ensured water volume and quality which will fulfil local environmental objectives, regulations are also part of the Waste Water Plan 2013-2016, of Aarhus City. (Ref. 1) )

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Other

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved waste management
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Unknown

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No

References

Ref. 1. City of Aarhus (2016) Rationalisation and environmental bonuses. Projects. Information obtained: 2017-06-23. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. City of Aarhus (2016) Effektivisering giver mere vand til Giber Å. Information obtained: 2017-06-23. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 3. City of Aarhus (2017) Spildevandsplan 2017-2020. Information obtained: 2017-06-23. Source: Source link [Accessed 14 September 2020]
Ref. 4. City of Aarhus (2016) Rationalisation and environmental bonuses. Targets. Information obtained: 2017-06-23. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 5. Aarhus Kommune (2017) Spildevandsplan 2017-2020. Teknik og miljø. Source: Source link [Accessed 18 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Aarhus Kommune (2010) Spildevandsplan 2010-2012. Miljøvurdering. Source: Source link [Accessed 18 September 2020]
Ref. 7. Aarhus Kommune (2012) Spildevandsplan 2013-2016. Miljøvurdering. Teknik og miljø. Source: Source link [Accessed 18 September 2020]