Urban challenges

Urban climate adaptation with Rockflow

Our changing climate is posing cities with new challenges related to safeguarding urban quality of life for the future. Rainfall is increasingly intense, there are longer periods of drought and temperatures are rising in inner cities. In addition to this, cities are expanding and increased urbanisation exacerbates existing climate-related challenges.

Climate

More frequent extreme rainfall, longer periods of drought and more urban areas acting as heat islands. These changes all have a variety of effects on the urban quality of life. Extreme downpours can cause local flooding, dry periods can cause vegetation to dry up and heat islands can create uncomfortable temperatures, resulting in physical complaints.

Urbanisation

The United Nations predicts that urbanisation will grow in Europe from 80% today to around 87% in 2050. This growth will increase the pressure on urban areas and infrastructure. In parallel, the amount of hard surfacing in cities will increase, which can create new challenges for rainwater capture and storage. In response, more cities and private residents are taking action to combat excess rainwater such as decoupling houses and other areas from the sewage system and creating more urban greenspaces to capture rainwater and cool down the city. In additon, more people are capturing rainwater on roofs to limit the pressure at ground level. Rainwater can then evaporate or be drained away gradually to underground systems.

Laws and regulations

European legislation provides guidance for dealing with rain, the quality of groundwater and surface water. Risk assessment and policy documents are being produced at local level to meet the objective of implementing climate adaptation in towns and cities. This is a gradual process. The economic and technical lifespan of existing solutions can last decades. New regulations require rainwater to be collected and dealt with where it falls, to prevent sewers overflowing and the need to use overflows. Rainwater infiltration in the city also contributes positively to restoring the natural water balance.

We have created this clear infographic to give an overview of the most crucial challenges for cities related to to the changing climate, rainfall in particular.

Are you planning to start with climate adaptive solutions in your municipality?

Then let us help you! We offer you an infographic free of charge with insight into:

Climate situations in the urban environment
Laws and regulations at national and local level
Sustainable urban drainage solutions

Download infographic

Infographic - Urban climate adaptation - Rockflow

It is our ambition to create a liveable climate-resilient city with a nature-based solution: stone wool

Ala Hussin

Rockflow

Managing Director

Solutions with Rockflow:

Rockflow - Napoleonsbaan - Baarlo - Naast de weg - Stedelijke klimaatadaptatie

Solutions

Linear attenuation and drainage system

With linear attenuation and drainage, a system of Rockflow stone wool elements are placed in parallel underneath or next to a road. The infiltration trench captures rainwater from the street, the pavement and the surrounding plots.

Rockflow - Deurne - Sancta Maria - Grote buffer

Solutions

Central attenuation and drainage system

Using a central attenuation and drainage system, the water is drained from a surrounding area towards a central place. The rainwater from the surrounding area is captured at this central place and infiltrates either into the groundwater or by gradual discharge to the sewer system.

Solutions

Blue-green swale

A swale is a ditch with or without a permeable base. These swales can be placed in urban areas to collect excess water during heavy rainfall. Stone wool can be placed in the swale under the layer of soil with plants, creating more space for collecting water and reducing the depth of the swale.

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Contact

Urban challenges

Climate

Climate change

This is how Rockflow works

Solutions

Frequently asked questions

Urbanisation

Laws and regulations

Are you planning to start with climate adaptive solutions in your municipality?

Solutions with Rockflow:

Linear attenuation and drainage system

Central attenuation and drainage system

Blue-green swale

Useful Rockflow links:

Frequently Asked Questions Rockflow

Downloads Rockflow

Questions? Get in touch with us:

Rockflow Contact

Construction team Rockflow