1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Göteborg (FUA) Region Europe Short description of the intervention The Gårda pilot rain garden has been constructed as part of the research project Innovative Rain Gardens at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. In addition to causing flooding, runoff rain water in urban environments can be contaminated with microplastics, organic pollutants and metals which can spread into the natural environment. Yet, most of the storm water in urban environments is not treated. The purpose of the Innovative Rain Gardens project is to research the ability of a pilot rain garden to treat such pollution. The project acknowledges the function of a rain garden to prevent flooding, but in this study only the pollution treatment potential is investigated. The pilot rain garden was constructed next to the E6 highway in central Gothenburg [Ref. 1-4]. It includes several different bioretention filters where selected plants are grown in filters containing different materials such as biochar, ash and soil [Ref. 2, 3]. Results so far show that the use of rain gardens can significantly reduce pollution. However, further research is needed to determine the long term function of the bioretention filters and the potential of scaling up the NBS. The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (Formas), IMMERSE - Implementing Measures for Sustainable Estuaries, an Interreg project supported by the North Sea Programme of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, and COWIfonden (private foundation) [Ref. 1-3]. Website of the intervention https://www.chalmers.se/projekt/raingardens/om-projektet/ Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Urban flooding (stormwater) Environmental Degradation Poor water quality Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Fabriksgatan 30 412 51 Göteborg Sweden Location Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place Area boundary (map-based) Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Mixed-use development (combination of residential, commercial, and/or industrial) Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) unknown Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2022 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Ongoing 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention The project aims to improve the multi-functionality of rain gardens by, in addition to preventing floods, promote the treatment of pollutants [Ref. 1-3]. The stated objective of the scientific study are to: - "Design and construct an innovative and sustainable pilot-scale rain garden to effectively remove microplastics and other pollutants. - Evaluate absorption materials such as peat, biochar, and ash as bed material, with and without plants. - In the pilot, an in-depth study of the processes in the rain beds for removal, distribution, degradation, potential uptake in plants, and possible leaching of microplastics and other pollutants." [Ref. 2] Key Priorities Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13) Climate change adaptation Water management (SDG 6) Flood protection Stormwater and rainfall management and storage Improvements to water quality Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities 1. The project was created as a Cross-Border-Collaboration between COWI AB (Sweden), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), and Aquateam COWI (Norway) [Ref. 1]. 2. The project applied for and recieved funding from COWIfonden (a private fund), FORMAS (a Swedish government research council), and the EU Interreg program [Ref. 1, 2]. 3. The experimental rain garden was set up next to a highway, and included bioretention filters with different soil or substrates and different plant species. The pollution contents of stormwater coming into and out of the filters was tested [Ref. 2, 3]. 4. In 2023, a report was published on the project website with the initial results of the study [Ref. 2]. 5. Additional results were published in a scientific journal in 2024 [Ref. 3]. 6. The study will continue for a few years as part of a PhD and be published in the future thesis [Ref. 2]. Type of NBS project Creation of semi-natural blue areas Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens) Knowledge creation and awareness raising Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Green areas for water management Rain gardens Amenities offered by the NBS Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations) Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Flood regulation Water purification / filtration Cultural services Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area No information found. The rain garden appears to be located between the highway and a commercial area with mostly office buildings, based on Google Maps. Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Private sector/Corporate/Business Researchers, university Primary Beneficiaries Private sector/Corporate/Company Researchers/University Specify primary beneficiaries The project is a collaboration between consultancy company COWI AB (Sweden), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) and Aquateam COWI (Norway). Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Natural habitats (e.g. wetland, forests, coastal areas) Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification) City infrastructure (e.g., reduced flooding, improved water quality) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Led by non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative "The project is facilitated by a Cross-Border-Collaboration between COWI AB (Sweden), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), and Aquateam COWI (Norway)." [Ref. 1]. The project is a research project, part of a PhD project, at Chalmers in collaboration with COWI, which is a private consulting firm, and Aquateam COWI, a research institute funded by COWI. All of the researchers listed as co-authors in the publications about the project are employed either at Chalmers or COWI/Aquateam COWI [Ref. 2-3]. Recycling and waste company Renova and the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute are also involved but the individuals from those organisations are also connected to Chalmers [Ref. 3-4] Key actors - initiating organization Researchers/university Private sector/corporate actor/company Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Private foundation/trust EU body Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Unknown Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Unknown Land owners No information found Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Unknown Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Please specify other type of voluntary intervention Research project Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers NBS research project (e.g., H2020, Urban Living Labs, national research projects) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. IMplementing MEasuRes for Sustainable Estuaries (IMMERSE), an Interreg project supported by the North Sea Programme of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union [Ref. 3] Governace and decison-making instruments Economic and fiscal instruments (e.g. subsidies or grants, charges or fees, payments for ecosystem services (PES)) Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs) Arrangements for governance cooperation Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups) Barriers The project has been limited in size and time until currently published results, which limits the generation of information. For example, the start-up period had limited rainfall, and the long-term function of the bioretention filters is unknown. Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) Unknown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? Unknown Source(s) of funding Research organisation / University EU funds Private Foundation/Trust Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Unknown Co-finance for NBS Yes Co-governance arrangement Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Green education model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Water management and blue areas Improved water quality Achieved improved water quality Increased protection against flooding Expected increased protection against flooding Improved stormwater management Expected improved stormwater management Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems Description of environmental benefits 1. Achieved improved water quality: All bioretention filters efficiently removed microplastics >10µm, organic pollutants and most metals. The quality of the stormwater passing through the filters is, therefore, improved. 2. Expected increased protection against flooding: If the bioretention filters are found effective and implemented at a larger scale, it will also retain stormwater and protect against flooding. 3. Expected improved stormwater management: The rain garden is said to fulfil the typical function of reducing floods, but the efficiency of that function is not evaluated. 4. Expected enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems: Since the bioretention filters are efficient at treating pollution, less pollution is expected to reach nearby natural waters. 5. Expected enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems: Since the bioretention filters are efficient at treating pollution, less pollution is expected to reach nearby natural waters. [Ref. 2-3] Economic impacts Unknown Description of economic benefits Unknown Social and cultural impacts Education Increased support for education and scientific research Achieved increased support for education and scientific research Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Description of social and cultural benefits 1. Achieved increased support for education and scientific research: The project is a scientific research project and has generated funding for NBS research. 2. Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: The project generates knowledge about the pollution treatment function of rain gardens/bioretention filters [Ref. 1-3]. Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts Researchers/university Private sector/corporate actor/company Private foundation/trust Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Output indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports Yes Link to monitoring/evaluation reports https://northsearegion.eu/media/23780/immerse-wp47-final-version-may-2023.pdf Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Public disclosure of project funding sources and/or budgets Online disclosure of technical reports (e.g. project documents, reports, or data) Justice Community satisfaction Unknown Description of locals satisfaction with the project Unknown Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Long-term perspective No Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Technical change (e.g. built infrastructure of cities and their parts, roads, buildings and so on) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. Hvitt Strömvall, A.-M. (2023). About the project. Chalmers University of Technology, Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Johansson, G., Karlfeldt Fedje, K., Andersson-Sköld, Y., Modin, O., & Strömvall, A.-M. (2023). IMplementing MEasuRes for Sustainable Estuaries (IMMERSE): Report for WP 4.7 Innovative Rain Gardens for Sustainable and Effective Treatment of Urban Runoff Polluted with Microplastics and other Pollutants . Interreg North Sea Region, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Johansson, G., Karlfeldt Fedje, K., Modin, O., Haeger-Eugensson, M., Uhl, W., Andersson-Sköld, Y., & Strömvall, A.-M. (2023). Removal and release of microplastics and other environmental pollutants during the start-up of bioretention filters treating stormwater . Journal of Hazardous Materials, 468, Article 133532, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Karlfeldt Fedje, K. (n.d.). Innovative rain gardens to filter microplastics from stormwater . Renova AB, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Comments When selecting the "point location" option under Location in section 1, it is not possible to add an area image. I have found no images that clearly define the physical boundaries of the NBS. The pictures that are attached under public images in section 6 are the most informative available. My understanding is that the barrels shown in the picture is the actual "rain garden", making the name a bit misleading. The project is a scientific experiment which can lead to larger scale implementations in the future. Regarding key priorities, this project is mainly focused on the spread of pollution. The rain garden's purpose as a climate adaptation measure is secondary in this case. Pollution relates to biodiversity, but I would not say biodiversity can be considered a key priority either. Therefore, no selection of key priority really fits? Additional insights The research project is still ongoing in 2024. The PhD project that it is connected to will go on until 2026. Therefore, there will be more publications in the future that may provide more information about the impacts of the project. For example, if it can be implemented in a large scale. Public Images Image Location of the Gårda rain garden shown at different scales. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389424001110?via%3Dihub#sec0095 Image Bioretention filters, showing plant growth over time https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133532
Image Location of the Gårda rain garden shown at different scales. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389424001110?via%3Dihub#sec0095
Image Bioretention filters, showing plant growth over time https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133532
