CITYWATER - Benchmarking water protection in cities LIFE11 ENV/FI/000909

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1 CITYWATER - Benchmarking water protection in cities LIFE11 ENV/FI/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Contact person: Kajsa ROSQVIST Project description: Background The Baltic Sea, with a catchment consisting of 14 countries and around 90 million residents, is one of the most polluted brackish water bodies in the world. Eutrophication, caused by high nutrient loading from municipal wastewater, agriculture, scattered settlements, traffic (from nitrogen deposition), energy production, industry and and traffic are among the most serious threats. Seawater quality in the area of Helsinki is affected by impurities in storm waters, diffuse loading, human activities and wastewater. The environmental situation requires local level actors to improve their knowledge and acquire new skills and tools in order to be able to contribute to the protection of the sea. Thus, it is vitally important to use understandable environmental communication and demonstrate the cost-benefit relationship of voluntary water protection measures. Objectives The objective of the CITYWATER project was to implement environmentally-relevant and cost-effective water protection measures in municipalities in the Baltic Sea region, to improve the quality of coastal waters. The aim was to improve general working procedures by facilitating communication and increasing environmental knowledge. Water protection work was based on the principles of the Baltic Sea Challenge (BSC) initiative, which links a network of more than 170 actors, including municipalities, companies, universities and associations. The project also aimed to assess the environmental

2 impact and cost-benefit ratio of different water protection measures and of different activities that municipalities carry out with regard to the Baltic Sea, and to compile the project results within a toolbox of water protection measures for cities. Results The CITYWATER project facilitated, demonstrated and implemented cost-effective voluntary water protection measures in cities and municipalities in the Baltic Sea region, with the aim of improving the state of coastal waters. The work was carried out through the Baltic Sea Challenge (BSC) initiative, which spreads good working examples around the Baltic Sea region. This improved the environmental knowledge of beneficiaries and stakeholders, helping them to communicate their message within their own organisations and to the general public, and also helping motivate people to protect the Baltic Sea. The project facilitated and implemented a series of concrete water protection measures at a local level (cities and municipalities). A storm water purification and retention solution was implemented in Helsinki and in the botanical garden in Tallinn. This was complemented by assessments of the environmental impact and cost-benefits of the different water protection measures and activities that cities and municipalities carry out in relation to the Baltic Sea. Through its promotion and demonstration of the BSC, for instance, at events and meetings in Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Latvia and Lithuania, the project has helped generate benefits for local actors, including new working procedures and increased cooperation within city administrations, as well as finding new contacts and project partners through the BSC network. The demonstrations of water protection measures will enable the project s approach to be replicated in other Baltic Sea locations. Results from the monitoring of project actions were compiled and disseminated. The project produced a toolbox of water protection measures ( with information and examples to support their implementation. However, the project found that when involving actors in different Baltic Sea countries, templates for actions were not directly transferable due to differences in public attitudes, the lack of a common language, low environmental awareness, economic constraints and other factors, requiring the BSC to be adjusted to national/local contexts. Before CITYWATER, there were 15 international organisations in the BSC network, out of which only two had submitted an action plan. The project engaged four new partners and its actions resulted in five new action plans being completed. The international strategy adopted for the BSC has made it easier to market the network and after the CITYWATER project several new international organisations have joined the network. In addition, project results raised awareness of the BSC, provided arguments for water protection and showed practical examples of measures, which will further strengthen and spread the BSC network. By encouraging and implementing water protection measures the project supported the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). The success of achieving the ultimate objective of the Water Framework Directive ( good ecological and chemical status for all Community waters by 2015") is highly dependent on actions taken at the

3 local level. The project targets Priority Area 1 in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (COM (2009) 248), that is reducing eutrophication, and directly supports the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) Baltic Sea Action Plan. The project s actions also relate to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC), and the directive on maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships (2002/84/EC). In terms of socio-economic benefits, clean water can boost business, tourism and recreational opportunities. It can also lead to inhabitants having a stronger pride in their cities, further affecting the local economy positively. Water protection measures, such as the construction of new storm water handling infrastructure, create employment and increase business opportunities. With a general improvement in the state of coastal waters, comes improvements in the quality of life for inhabitants. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section). Environmental issues addressed: Themes Water - Water quality improvement Water - Water resources protection Keywords water quality improvement urban area coastal area marine pollution rain water Target EU Legislation Water Directive 91/271 - Urban waste water treatment ( ) Directive 2000/60 - Framework for Community action in the field of water policy ( ) Directive 2006/7 - Management of bathing water quality and repealing Directive 76/160/EEC ( Marine environment and Coasts HELCOM Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment in the Baltic Sea Area of 1992 (fur... Directive 2008/56 - Framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (M... Natura 2000 sites

4 Not applicable Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners City of Helsinki Envinronment Centre Local authority The city of Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a rapidly growing city with ca inhabitants in The City of Helsinki Environment Centre (CHEC) is an oversight and expert agency of the capital. Its activities range from environmental monitoring to improving residential environments to food safety. CHEC has a long history of monitoring the state of local marine ecosystems. This includes mandatory monitoring of the effects of sewage water in the sea, and other physical, chemical and biological monitoring such as of storm waters, harmful algal blooms, water quality for swimming, etc. City of Turku, Finland Tallinn City, Estonia Tallinn University, Estonia Administrative data: Project reference LIFE11 ENV/FI/ Duration 01-OCT-2012 to 30-SEP Total budget 1,158, EU contribution 578, Põhja-Eesti(Estonia Eesti) Lääne-Eesti(Estonia Eesti) Kesk-Eesti(Estonia Eesti) Kirde-Eesti(Estonia Eesti) Lõuna-Eesti(Estonia Eesti) Extra-Regio(Estonia Eesti) Associated Estonia (EE)(Estonia Eesti) Uusimaa(Finland Suomi) Varsinais-Suomi(Finland Suomi) Satakunta(Finland Suomi) Häme(Finland Suomi) Pirkanmaa(Finland Suomi) Päijät-Häme(Finland Suomi) Kymenlaakso(Finland Suomi) Etelä-Karjala(Finland Suomi) Etelä-Savo(Finland Project location Suomi) Pohjois-Savo(Finland Suomi) Pohjois-Karjala(Finland Suomi) Kainuu(Finland

5 Suomi) Keski-Suomi(Finland Suomi) Etelä-Pohjanmaa(Finland Suomi) Vaasan rannikkoseutu(finland Suomi) Keski-Pohjanmaa(Finland Suomi) Pohjois-Pohjanmaa(Finland Suomi) Lappi(Finland Suomi) Ahvenanmaa/Åland(Finland Suomi) Baltic Sea Suomi (SF)(Finland Suomi) Read more: Title: "Miks lasta linna vihmaveel kanalisatsioonis raisku minna?: Linnade keskkonnasõbralikumaks muutmine jätkusuutlike sademeveesüsteemidega" (2.28 MB) Editor: City of Helsinki No of pages: 12 Title: "Empowering local actors: Communication strategy for local-level water protection activities: Strategy document" (1.13 MB) Author: Kaja Tampere, Arko Olesk, Esta Kaal Year: 2015 Editor: Tallinn University No of pages: 15 Title: "Cost-benefit analysis of municipal water protection measures: Environmental benefits versus costs of implementation: Executive summary" (476 KB) Author: Eliisa Punttila Year: 2014 Editor: City of Helsinki Environment Centre No of pages: 8 Title: "Urban rain wasted in drain: Sustainable storm water solutions for greener cities" (4.04 MB) Editor: City of Helsinki No of pages: 6 Leaflet Title: Project's leaflet [ET] (2 MB) Editor: The Baltic Sea Challenge No of pages: 2 Leaflet Title: Project's leaflet [EN] (1.99 MB) Editor: The Baltic Sea Challenge No of pages: 2 Poster Title: "The Baltic sea challenge" (1.71 MB) Year: 2013 Editor: City of Helsinki No of pages: 2 Project web site Project's website Publication: After-LIFE Title: After-LIFE Communication report No of Communication Plan pages: 8 Publication: Layman report Title: Layman report No of pages: 24 Publication: Management plan Title: "Management plan 30/04/2013" (200 KB) Year: 2013 Editor: City of Helsinki Environment Centre No of pages: 21

6 Publication: Research findings Title: "Local actors and the Baltic sea 2: Water protection attitudes and activities in coastal municipalities: A questionnaire study in the Baltic countries and Finland" (944 KB) Author: Kaja Tampere, Arko Olesk, Esta Kaal Year: 2015 Editor: Tallinn University No of pages: 48 Publication: Research findings Title: "Local actors and the Baltic sea 1: Attitudes towards water protection among the population of the Baltic countries: A questionnaire study" (1.67 MB) Author: Kaja Tampere, Arko Olesk, Esta Kaal Year: 2015 Editor: Tallinn University No of pages: 59 Publication: Technical report Title: "Communication plan: CITYWATER - Benchmarking water protection in cities" (979 KB) Year: 2013 Editor: City of Helsinki Environment Centre No of pages: 19 Publication: Technical report Title: Project's Final technical report Year: 2016 No of pages: 65 Publication: Technical report Title: "Cost-benefit analysis of municipal water protection measures: Environmental benefits versus costs of implementation" (2.29 MB) Author: Eliisa Punttila Year: 2014 Editor: City of Helsinki Environment Centre No of pages: 124 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more