Extremely interesting practices and solutions were presented during the Interregional study visit of the LAND-SEA Partners in Hamburg 17-19.09.2018.
Intensive first day discussions about the HAMBURG ecological friendly Sea Dykes for coastal protection (Eco-Dykes) took place, along with case studies about redesigning tourism areas threatened by flood protection.
The ITALIAN EXPERTISE underlined the sustainability as a key to survive. Options were presented and lessons from Venice about building of flooding walls in case of high waters (aqua alta). Emerging hydraulic scientific community issues about new economic design approaches, promotion of soft engineering solutions, which are environmentally friendly and building with nature were placed. A suggestion about a new weapon against rising tides - the new concept of “capturing the wave energy” and produce green electricity out of it, built in 2015 encountered high interest. In Germany and Bulgaria through such approach and due to the higher energy of the waves 3-4 times more electricity could be produced, explained the Italian experts.
BARCELONA is paying attention to the coastal water management and namely how to manage the sewer system overflow, especially during stormy rains.
Example of discharges of the overflow, systems to reduce environmental problems were part of the Catalonian partners presentation. Master plan for sewer system of Barcelona PDISBA presented. Analyses of the rainfalls show 50 % reduction of the volume of overflow, so this is considered a heavy success. Best practices of how citizens and tourists are informed about bad weather conditions and risks of water pollution and stormy rains with colored flags, as well as information on the website of the municipality and the social networks were explained.
BULGARIAs success lies in the solutions found by the Varna Municipality experts and the funding received by the European Solidarity Fund. Newly built infrastructure after the big flood in Asparuhovo neighborhood in 2014 which took precious human lifes was presented. Facilities along the route of both East and West channels in Varna, deposit retention points, access ramps for inspection and cleaning of channels, discharges to sea and Varna lake and bridges and intersection with underground infrastructureall partners admired the good practice of the Bulgarian partners.
