Informations
Solution ID
Description of solution
"Testing the feasibility of a green infrastructure, instead of a traditional grey infrastructure, to treat sewage overflows, and investigating the multiple benefits that the green infrastructure provides and its relevance for water management."
Potential impacts/benefits:
- Improved management of water resources for the benefit of people and biodiversity.
- Providing evidence that green infrastructures, besides complying with the existing water regulations, provide additional services.
- Providing the regional government, the main sponsor of the infrastructure, with a cost-benefit analysis that can be replicated to analyse the potential impact of this kind of intervention in other locations.
- Showing the perspective of different groups of stakeholders (local residents, municipality, water & environmental managers, experts and NGOs)
"The green infrastructure consists of a set of constructed wetlands (CW), surrounded by a park on the shore of the Olona River in an area previously used for poplar plantation. It includes a) a pollutant removal area with a grid, a sedimentation tank and 4 vertical sub-surface flow CW; b) a surface flow CW with multiple roles, such as pollution retention, buffer for flood events, maintenance of biodiversity and recreation; and c) a recreational park with restored riparian trees, green open space, information panels, walking and cycling paths and other services. The whole surface area is 6.5 ha."
"The green infrastructure (constructed wetlands and park) performs equal to or even better than the grey alternative for water purification and flood protection. It provides additional benefits (wildlife support and recreation) specially valued by the local residents and stakeholders, and it has similar costs."