Last updated: November 2024
Rainwater management in Gdańsk presents significant challenges due to the city's hydromorphological conditions, including high groundwater levels and steep terrain. These factors, coupled with the periodic inefficiency of the storm sewer system and the intensification of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, have necessitated innovative solutions. Gdańsk has responded by implementing a climate change adaptation policy that promotes the use of open drainage systems, including small retention facilities like rain gardens. These gardens help mitigate the risks associated with excessive rainfall while enhancing urban sustainability. The first rain garden in Gdańsk was established in the Stogi district at the Flood Control Warehouse on Kaczeńce Street. This facility collects and utilizes rainwater from nearby paved surfaces, aiming to manage rainfall of at least 30 mm during intense, short-term downpours. Utilizing a variety of perennials such as marsh marigold, common loosestrife, comfrey, hemp agrimony, common calamus, and arrowhead, the garden retains and filters rainwater naturally, increasing efficiency and ecological benefits. Rain gardens absorb water up to 40% better than traditional lawns. They reduce rainwater runoff, mitigate flood risks, filter pollutants, improve biodiversity, and enhance urban air quality while lowering temperatures. The garden was created as part of a broader investment in the Flood Control Warehouse in Stogi, a facility opened in 2017 at a cost of over PLN 5 million. Strategically located near the Sucharski Route and the Martwa Wisła tunnel, the warehouse supports rapid response to flood emergencies, storing over 100 types of equipment, from shovels to large generators. This combination of infrastructure and green solutions demonstrates Gdańsk's commitment to urban resilience and environmental sustainability. (1-4)
Rain Garden in Gdansk
Ref. 3
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Air pollution
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat restoration, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of city-wide or neighborhood climate adaptation or mitigation strategies/programs
Project objectives
To reduce the risk of floods and flooding by managing excess rainwater effectively.
To slow down the flow and promote retention of rainwater, minimizing strain on urban drainage systems.
To replenish groundwater resources through the natural infiltration of rainwater.
To remove pollutants from rainwater, improving water quality and environmental health.
To improve the quality of the urban environment through sustainable water management practices.
To increase biodiversity by creating habitats for various plant and animal species.
To reduce air temperature, improve its quality, and counteract urban heat island effects.
To engage the community in environmental and educational initiatives and foster awareness about climate resilience.
To involve the community in decision making processes (1-4)
Implementation activities
Gdańskie Wody initiated the rain garden project to manage rainwater and reduce flooding in Gdańsk. The initiative involved active participation from the community, with adult residents assisting in planting the gardens, while preschoolers and students also contributed. To further engage the public, workshops were organized to teach residents how to create their own rain gardens. These sessions included step-by-step instructions from the "Gdańsk Small Retention Guide" and offered hands-on learning experiences. The process of creating the rain gardens involved excavating soil to depths between 0.5 and 3 meters to form basins capable of collecting and filtering rainwater. If challenges such as underground networks or extensive tree roots were encountered, adjustments were made, including the addition of more absorbent soil layers to ensure the gardens' effectiveness (1, 2).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Gdańskie Wody, a municipal company, leads the project. Residents play an active role in the process by helping to identify suitable locations for rain gardens, participating in planting activities, and collaborating with the city to support the initiative. The initiative involved active participation from the community, with adult residents assisting in planting the gardens, while preschoolers and students also contributed. To further engage the public, workshops were organized to teach residents how to create their own rain gardens. (1, 2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Gdansk climate adaptation strategy (6))
Type of enablers
Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
Less than €10,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Expected improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Expected increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Kowalkiewicz, A. (2018). Poznaj pierwszy gdański ogród deszczowy. Portal Miasta Gdańska, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Klimada 2.0 (n.d.). Ogrody deszczowe w Gdańsku. Klimada 2.0, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Gdańskie Wody (n.d.). Ogród deszczowy na terenie Miejskiego Magazynu Przeciwpowodziowego - ul. Kaczeńce. Gdańskie Wody, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Komunalny.pl (2018). W Gdańsku pojawił się pierwszy ogród deszczowy. Komunalny.pl, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Kosycarz Foto Press (2018). NA STOGACH POWSTAŁ PIERWSZY W GDAŃSKU OGRÓD DESZCZOWY. ODKRYTO RÓWNIEŻ TAJEMNICE MAGAZYNU PRZECIWPOWODZIOWEGO. Kosycarz Foto Press, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
6.
44mpa.pl (n.d.). Opracowanie planów adaptacji do zmian klimatu w miastach powyżej 100 tys. mieszkańców. 44mpa.pl, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Gawlik, K. (2019). Gdańsk jako pierwsze miasto w Polsce zakłada gruntowe ogrody deszczowe i parki retencyjne. SMOG LAB, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Urząd Miejski w Gdańsku (n.d.). Gdańskie dzielnice tu mieszkam tu działam STOGI. Urząd Miejski w Gdańsku, Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Gdańskie Wody (2020). Gdańskie Wody. Gdańskie Wody, Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
Rain Garden in Gdańsk
Ref. 6
Rain gardens in Gdansk
https://klimada2.ios.gov.pl/ogrod-deszczowy/ogrody-deszczowe-w-gdansku/
Rain gardens in Gdansk
https://klimada2.ios.gov.pl/ogrod-deszczowy/ogrody-deszczowe-w-gdansku/
Rain gardens in Gdansk
https://klimada2.ios.gov.pl/ogrod-deszczowy/ogrody-deszczowe-w-gdansku/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.