Overview

RainSolutions assesses innovative nature-based solutions (NBS) for the sustainable management of nature, addressing a combination of societal challenges such as climate change, water security, water pollution, human well-being and risk management. With specific focus on drought alleviation (water supply and management), different relevant NBS products and technologies such as sustainable flood retention basins, integrated constructed wetlands as well as rainwater harvesting and reuse techniques will be evaluated. In order to evaluate the benefits of NBS in terms of urban flood risk mitigation, sustainable drainage systems concepts will be considered, thus including the use of blue-green infrastructure such as wetlands, ponds, green roofs, detention structures and permeable pavements.

The human health risks, socio-economic, cultural, environmental and other evaluation criteria of interest to a decision-support framework should be identified and assessed. A tool library of criteria linked with socio-economic aspects will be populated to identify measures, for example, supporting the restoration and rehabilitation of urban water resources by finding integrated solutions balancing different needs.

Close cooperation with municipalities to develop a practical framework to sustainably protect citizens, industry and urban ecosystems from the consequences of pressures such as population increase and climate variability is required. Moreover, the assessment of urban wetland systems located in climate control chambers simulating future climatic scenarios would greatly help to refine the scenario repository with real and not estimated data.

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