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A flood and heat proof green Emscher valley, Germany

Image from Climate Adapt about this case study
Autor: © Emschergenoss.

Over a century ago a sparsely populated landscape of water meadows was transformed into an industrial conurbation, and the untamed river Emscher, in the Ruhr area, turned into a man-made system of open waste waterways. Due to subsidence caused by mining, it was impossible to build an underground sewer system. Therefore, the Emscher and its tributaries were regulated and used to transport the wastewater together with rainwater on the surface. This made the Emscher simply a great open wastewater channel. With the decline in the mining industry, traditional heavy industry gave way to the services and high-tech industries.

In the 1990s restoration of the 85 km stretch of the Emscher river started, gradually creating the New Emscher Valley, also taking into account challenges of climate change. This large-scale project was meant to drive regional development, stimulating economic, ecological and social progress in the valley. This has been achieved by a social consensus and close cooperation among municipalities, companies and citizens. In 2006, the Emscher Roadmap 2020 including planning principles for a new revitalization project was published by the Emschergenossenschaft (Emscher Cooperative). Numerous measures of this roadmap have been implemented. Wastewaters have been channelled through closed sewers and the river and its tributaries have been converted into nature-like waterways. Gradually being developed with the help of several projects and the role of regional planning bodies, the valley comprises cooling green spaces, areas for flood control, recreational areas and a network connecting different habitats. Therefore it enhances the quality of life in the Ruhr metropolitan area also under future climate conditions. Strengthening the green infrastructure network and changing water management, the Emscher Valley has successfully started to improve its capacity as carbon sink, to create a more favourable microclimate, to reduce flood risks in case of heavy rainfall events and to achieve a more balanced water cycle in times of dry summer periods.

 

Case Study Description
Challenges: 

During the 20th century the Emscher river was used mainly to quickly and completely drain all the area’s wastewater. This resulted in extreme fluctuations in the amounts of water discharged. Following a downpour, up to 350 cubic meters per second of water could have flowed through the Emscher, in contrast during dry periods just 11 cubic meters per second of water could have trickled through this polluted waterway. Considering climate change projection more extremes can be expected.

According to long-range climate projections, the Emscher area will experience more wet and moderate winters, along with more frequent extreme winds and storms. Summers will be hotter and with recurring events of extreme rainfall. These climatic changes will leave lasting effects upon the socio-economic conditions of the population, upon security, and upon the region’s productivity and competitiveness. More in detail, the following climate change challenges are expected for the area (Quirmbach et al., 2012):

  • Increase of extreme rainfall events: more often and more severe. Climate change will double the events of extreme rainfall. Data from 1961-1990 show rainfall events with more than 40 mm/d to occur about 2 times per year. The projections for similar events for the years 2021-2050 is about 5 times per year and for the years 2071-2100 even more than 5 times. The annual mean precipitation will increase by about 9% by 2050.
  • Increase of temperature: more hot days, less cold days. Over the recent 50 years, the average air temperature has shown an increase of 1°C. For the future, the annual mean temperature is expected to increase of another 1.6 degrees by 2050, and about 2.9 degrees by 2100. Not only will the average temperature rise, also extremes will be more common with more days with temperatures higher than 30 degrees. By 2050, 50% more hot days, and by 2100 about 100% more hot days are expected to occur. This will cause heat stress, especially for the aging human population in the Ruhr area. Cold days with frost and ice will decrease by about 50% by 2050 and by about 80% by 2100.
  • Impacts on ground water: less in summer and higher in winter. In summer, higher temperatures are expected to result in a lower ground water recharge rate. In winter, with more precipitation, the level of ground water is expected to rise. This will increase the possibility of floods. Specifically, if no sustainable storm water management is implemented, the areas with flood risk will increase by about 20% in the near future.
  • Impacts on ecosystems. The above described climate change will have impacts on ecosystems such as water bodies, wetlands and woodlands. Especially water bodies are sensitive: low water levels in summer will raise the level of nutrients and pollutants, extreme rainfall will cause erosion at the river banks, and a higher temperature will lower the level of oxygen in water.
Objectives: 

To prepare for future climatic conditions, the Emschergenossenschaft (Emscher Cooperative), the water management association responsible for the Emscher river, decided for flexible nature-based solutions. Choice was made for combining the channelling of the wastewater originally directed to the Emscher and its tributaries into closed sewers, with revitalization of the rivers, aiming to strengthen the water cycle and profit from the water buffering as well as from cooling provided by nature’s ecosystem services. In short, the main adaptation objectives were:

  • For summer: creating the green corridors of the Emscher landscape park for cooling, as well as creating a resilient water system, thereby avoiding the drying-out of brooks and rivers.
  • For winter: increasing the retention capacity of the water bodies in order to avoid flooding in case of heavy rainfalls.
Solutions: 

A traditional solution in response to the expected water discharge needs would have be the construction of a sewer system that could cope with expected variation in water amounts. With the Emscher revitalization project a more transitional approach was taken strengthening the water cycle by converting the river and its tributaries into nature-like waterways and by having wastewater channelled through closed sewers. Gradually being developed, the valley already comprises cooling green spaces, areas for flood control, recreation areas and a habitat network. All these measures contribute to the enhancement of the quality of life in the Ruhr metropolitan area. Important key elements of the Emscher project were and are the natural restauration of the Emscher system, wastewater management with underground installations of the sewage system, consideration of flood protection in all projects and sustainable rainwater management with return of (clean) rainwater into natural water cycles. Further elements are educational initiatives around the Emscher Valley and the development of valuable recreation areas.

Nature-like water bodies have a higher capacity to buffer extreme weather events. In case of heavy rainfall, a nature-like water body has a higher retention capacity than a heavily modified one. The green belts accompanying the Emscher and its tributaries work as fresh air supply corridors for the dense urban areas. Wetlands and areas for stormwater retention cool down heat islands. The quality of life for people rises, heat stress is reduced, and new cycle paths along the water bodies provide possibilities for sustainable mobility. The overall approach taken is to integrate water management and urban planning for a water sensitive urban development.

Before projects such as dynaklim and Future Cities started, each actor in the Emscher region developed its own adaptation approach. For example, the water boards analysed whether their sustainable water management was fit to cope with expected impacts of climate change. Cities assessed their building stock and discussed which improvements would be needed in response to the heat island effect. Further, the Regional Association Ruhr (Regionalverband Ruhr) fostered its measurements of urban temperatures. With the support of these two projects a cross-sectoral approach was developed, including all relevant stakeholders from different sectors such as: water management, planning, building, health and emergency services. In addition, being a partner in the Future Cities project, the Emscher case served as an example to develop strategies to make urban regions fit to cope with the expected impacts of climate change. Within the project the joint tool “Future Cities Adaptation Compass” was developed to help urban regions to create their own adaptation strategy. This tool fostered very much an interdisciplinary approach to reach cross-sectoral solutions.

An example of an outcome of the Future Cities project is the sustainable development of two climate-proof industrial parks in Bottrop, in the Emscher region. Flash floods after heavy rainfalls often occurred on both sites. This situation is expected to be intensified with climate change. The Emschergenossenschaft and the Bottrop municipality agreed on a cooperation to restructure the industrial parks "Scharnhölzstraße" and "Boytal", thereby combining water, green and energy measures to make them climate-proof. The “Scharnhölzstraße” is an old business-site with an almost completely sealed surface. On the site, heavy rains tend to cause problems as well as overheating during periods of drought. A combined approach was taken for the public space on the one hand and the privately owned premises of the industry on the other hand. Decentralized solutions for rainwater (rainwater infiltration and rainwater use, solar power usage and green-zone enrichment) were envisaged to strengthen the area for upcoming climate events.

Although the Emscher system is now well prepared, torrential rainfall events can still cause flooding from time to time. Other conservation, requalification and adaptation projects have been therefore started or are planned. For example, in 2020 the Ruhr Conference initiated a new project called "Climate-resilient region with international charisma" (Klimaresiliente Region mit internationaler Strahlkraft). Within this project, the  ecosystem-based and holistic approach applied in the Emscher region will be extended to the entire area of the Ruhr region. The Ruhr system covers an area of 4,435 km², in which approx. 5.1 million people live in 53 towns and communities. For the implementation of adaptation measures, funding with a volume of around 250 million euros will be available in this area over the next ten years.

Importance and relevance of the adaptation: 

PARTFUND_AS_CCA;

Additional Details
Stakeholder engagement: 

The Emscher restoration project is closely linked to regional development and has given high importance to awareness raising and education. The New Emscher Valley is being developed through the close cooperation of municipalities, companies and citizens, coordinated by the Emschergenossenschaft (Emscher Cooperative).

The two dynaklim and Future Cities projects provided an important contribution to strengthening the cooperation between different actors. Within the first project, the dynaklim group was established. It includes more than 50 network partners: companies involved in the regional economy, water boards, municipalities, universities and research facilities, as well as regional and civil society initiatives. Together, they drew a joint regional climate adaptation strategy. The dynaklim network set up a constant exchange of new knowledge and practical experiences between the project partners and with the public. Similarly, several actions were defined during the Future Cities project and were set-up with the aim to support continuation after the ending of the project. A number of initiatives were initiated to ensure durability to the above projects, also including stakeholder engagement:

  • The former annual meetings of the dynaklim project are continued by the DWA (Deutschen Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfalland) project partners.
  • Some measures developed in the context of the dynaklim project were integrated in the “Climate Protection Plan” of the North Rhine-Westphalian government.
  • The Emscher Roadmap 2020 entitles the responsible organisations for the adaptation process and stipulates that these organisations continue the needed actions also after the end of the projects.
  • The use of the Future Cities Adaptation Compass in the city of Dortmund includes wide stakeholder participation. The process started with a stakeholder analysis to make sure that no relevant actor is left out.

Other relevant stakeholder participation activities are:

  • In case of restoring water courses of the Emscher system, the residents are involved in the planning and implementation in a broad information and participation process.
  • Regarding sustainable storm water management, the people in the Emscher region are informed in detail about how they can be involved including an internet platform.
  • Specifically regarding extreme rainfall events, an information campaign was started within the Future Cities project. The campaign is based on the internet platform.

The watersheds of the Emscher and the adjacent Lippe river face similar challenges of climate change. The two water boards, the Emschergenossenschaft and the Lippeverband, have therefore together developed measures for water management.

Success and limiting factors: 

The revitalization of the Emscher river and its valley started in 1992. After many years of planning and implementation, the New Emscher Valley has gone from a purely envisioned ideal to a reality that has inspired new urban development. The modernisation of wastewater infrastructure and associated revitalisation of the Emscher are making the river a valuable space for leisure and relaxation in the region. People can now again experience the Emscher, which was once inaccessible to the public due to high levels of pollution. The revitalisation of the Emscher and discharge of wastewater into underground canals has freed up new spaces for innovation above ground, making the Emscher region more attractive. Ecological, social and institutional innovation have been combined to develop these new spaces. Hence, the Emscher conversion is not only a technological project but also framed as an important trigger for notably improving the quality of life and achieving positive economic impacts in the Ruhr area.

The construction of underground sewers is still ongoing and is expected to be completed by 2022. It is important to stress that the ecological enhancement is an continuing process, which therefore needs to be continuously supported. The main limiting factor for other interventions is space. In a densely populated region such as the Emscher region with 2.700 people per square kilometre it is very hard to find space for a meandering river system. The competing demands on space are manifold: economic, social and ecological aspects have to be weighed up against each other. In addition, public authorities can only approve plans based on valid regulations.

Budget, funding and additional benefits: 

With an investment volume of 4.5 billion Euros and a project period of several decades, i.e. from 1989 (start of the International Building Exhibition IBA Emscherpark) to 2022 (expected end of the construction of the underground, channelled sewers), the Emscher conversion is one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects. Investments of this size have noticeable impact on a region’s economy. Through the Emscher revitalisation about 1,400 jobs per year were created in the years from 1991 to 2020 (cf. study from Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, November 2013). The conversion project’s significance extends well beyond its direct effects on employment though. Upgrading the Emscher region provides a new quality of life and work and brings with it great opportunities to sustainably improve the Ruhr area’s attractiveness. Thus, it can positively influence  the decisions of innovation-oriented companies considering moving or starting up in the region. The successful conversion of such a large river system also sends a positive signal for similar large-scale water management and urban development projects throughout Europe.

Considering the challenges of climate adaptation, it is hardly possible to name the costs involved if choice would not have been made to restore the Emscher but to implement higher dikes and bigger sewers. In addition to that it would cost a fortune to provide a purely technical protection system, this would never be 100% proof considering that no-one knows exactly how extreme the next rainfall event will be.

The Emscher revitalisation is paid through the members of the Emschergenossenschaft, which are municipalities, the mining industry and private parties. Further, best use has been made of several funds: from the Federal state of  North Rhine-Westphalia, national research funding such as KLIMZUG, and EU-funding such as objective 2, INTERREG, FP7 and HORIZON2020, LIFE+. Wherever possible, support from private parties, local businesses and NGOs, such as the Emscherfreunde (Friends of the Emscher), is welcomed.

Legal aspects: 
Implementation time: 

The Emscher revitalization started in 1992. The construction of underground sewers takes around 25 years and is expected to be fully completed by 2022. The ecological enhancement of the Emscher river and its valley is a continuing process.

Reference Information
Contact: 

Emschergenossenschaft / Lippeverband
Office of the board of management

Mario Sommerhäuser, head of office
E-mail: sommerhaeuser.mario@eglv.de

Martina Oldengott
E-mail: oldengott.martina@eglv.de

Andreas Giga
E-mail: giga.andreas@eglv.de 

Websites: 

http://www.future-cities.eu

http://www.eglv.de/emschergenossenschaft

Sources: 

Emschergenossenschaft / Lippeverband