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Case

Climate change adaptation

Flood prevention

Nature based solutions

+3

“Rain Gardens” in Digterhaven

3. April 2014

Solution provider

ProjectZero
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Increased rainfall and frequent rain has become a part of everyday life and concepts like ‘monster rain‘ has become part of our consciousness. Many have been alarmed by summers of flooded sewers, roads and basements. The climate is changing and we must adapt.

Sønderborg Municipality has repeatedly experienced flooding where high schools, traffic and other public institutions had to be shut down. To solve the problem, pressure on the sewer system has to be lowered. In the project 'Digterhaven - the 5 gardens' they have built ‘rain gardens‘ which are in fact pools capable of storing rainwater.

The rainwater that can be stored amounts to 4,000 m3 , which is the equivalent to the largest rainfall in history in the local area. The five rain pools are situated and integrated in nature with small paths curved in between the pools which makes it look like a small lake area. Scattered around the area are designated places for barbecue, a herb garden, playgrounds, and other community activities.

Digterhaven is as an example of adaptation to climate change in the form of increased rainwater which at the same time is both green and recreational. In this sense the rain water becomes a resource rather than a problem.