Improved water quality

"On June 1st 2017, Saint-Etienne Métropole officially committed itself to the implementation of measures to promote the circulation of wildlife between the different green spaces with important biodiversity in its territory" (Ref. 3). "Saint-Etienne Métropole has signed with 13 partners a new contract called "green and blue". It is a new blue and green framework for the whole territory, a regulatory tool for the protection of biodiversity" (Ref. 2). "It aims to continue and reinforce the actions already undertaken with a transversal and urban dimension" (Ref. 2).

The nonprofit organisation of Groundwork North East & Cumbria is working with partners from across the region to protect and preserve the upper part of the Ouseburn River. The Ouseburn River Restoration Project includes several physical measures and a number of enhancements to the river and the surrounding environment to slow the flow of the river, restore its ecosystem and improve water quality. The Project also works with farmers and landowners about how to manage fertiliser and sediment runoff, thus decreasing water contamination. The project will improve in-river and bankside habitats and provide with more water monitoring data and analysis.” (1)

This blue and green infrastructure project of Bergen involves the development of a river park with riverside promenades, bridges and recreation areas. Bergen municipality wishes to develop the area along the Møllendalselven to a park that in the long run will extend from Store Lungegårdsvann to Svartediket and further up to the mountains. The area's industrial history forms the backdrop of a new park that will act as a green lung for the city's residents, both locally and in a slightly larger perspective, where Møllendalselven will become the central element. (Ref. 1, 2)

The project aims to reintroduce Patella ferruginea in the three Protected Marine Areas (AMP) (Portofino, Bergeggi and Cinque Terre), where the causes of extinction have been eliminated and an adequate level of protection is ensured (1). The project expects to achieve the following results: Biodiversity recovery and restoration of ribbed Mediterranean limpet by re-establishing a local population starting with 100 specimens; Reproduction and production of juveniles (some 6 000 larvae per year) to be introduced to the target areas for restocking; Full recovery and new population development of ribbed Mediterranean limpet in the target area; Restoration of the population translocated from Tavolara by introducing juveniles from controlled reproduction; and Strengthened territorial promotion and reinforcement of the “clean sea” message" (4).

The urban development project between Little Lungegård Lake and Big Lungegård Lake (Store Lungegårdsvann) involves the creation of a canal between the two lakes as a means of runoff management, among other things. Water quality and flood protection are fundamental issues that are considered in this project as the city is expecting increased levels of precipitation due to climate change. The rest of the urban area will be transformed into an attractive modern city centre area with water as the most important element (Ref 1, 4).

Haukåsvassdraget is a vulnerable watercourse threatened by urban development and water run-offs from agriculture. The intervention included local use of surface water based on principles such as retention and infiltration, retaining and using the natural watercourses. The plan involved restoring the meandering river courses, ponds and pools and safeguarding the rich biodiversity and the landscape qualities linked to the Haukås watercourse and adjacent marshlands. The Haukås marshland park, combined with modern local handling of surface water, aims to prevent flooding in the development areas at Haukås and to improve the aesthetics of the area. (Ref. 1)

This intervention is about the restoration of the riverbanks of the Janon River along a street in the Terrenoire District of Saint Etienne. This area was abandoned for more than 10 years, without maintenance and cleaning. Therefore, this intervention was mandatory for clean up to avoid flood as well as bringing back vegetation and offering some quality walking areas for citizens (Ref. 1).

The park of "Bois d'Avaize", with an area of 30 ha, is located south-east of Saint-Étienne on a hill site between 540 and 640 m altitude. A former mining site, operated from the 15th century until 1931, it was gradually reclaimed by vegetation before being converted into a municipal park in 1996 (Ref. 1). In 2016, the site was selected for the development of a project to enhance biodiversity by creating of a conservatory orchard, increasing amphibian-friendly habitats (with creation of ponds), and improving the connection of the park with the Pilat massif (a mountainous area) (Ref. 1). It is classified with the label "Natura 2000" for the conservation of natural environments for the richness of its fauna and flora (Ref. 1). Work was undertaken between 2017-2018 with management and monitoring set to occur from 2018-2050 (Ref. 1).

Blackburn Meadows Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) has a mesophilic anaerobic digestion facility, which enables the recycled sludge to be used on neighbouring farmlands as manure. It also enables the generation of renewable energy using combined heat and power units. All the upgrade works were to improve the quality of effluent being discharged into the River Don (ref 3). Sheffield City Council and Yorkshire Water leased an unused part of the former sewage works, to turn into a nature reserve which provides habitat for migrating birds. A water meadow created on vacant land promotes ecological biodiversity and floodwater attenuation (Ref5). In 2013, the works handle a dry weather flow of more than 158,000 cu m of sewage per day, with the treated effluent pumped into the river. It is one of Yorkshire Water’s biggest assets, but with a projected dry weather flow set to hit 368,000 cu m per day by 2025, it is in need of an upgrade (ref 6). The project is fragmented into two phases as the 1st phase was completed in 2013 and the 2nd phase will be completed by 2021 (ref 3).

“Cooperation between, residents, businesses and the local authority to facilitate the adaptation of a large urban area in Aarhus for more rainfall in the future. They will be able to influence urban development in the direction of more attractive use of rainwater. Local Rainwater Drainage (LRD) is a current trend derived from the political desire to deal with some of the expected increase in extreme rainfall by collecting and using it for recreational purposes. Society will thus be able to adapt to climate change better whilst providing more recreational facilities and environmental improvements.” (Ref. 1)