Multisource

Multisource (ModULar Tools for Integrating enhanced natural treatment SOlutions in Urban water CycLEs)

About the project:

The City of Oslo and NIVA are collaborating with 18 partners to treat and reuse urban stormwater using nature-based treatment solutions in 7 pilot projects in Europe and USA. One of these projects is located in Oslo.

Why:

Increasing urbanization creates challenges such as water scarcity, health issues, and loss of ecosystem services. Many cities rely on extensive water supply infrastructure, which increases their resilience to climate change. To address the pressure on water resources, it is important to integrate decentralized solutions into existing infrastructure. Nature-based solutions for water treatment are cost-effective, can be built with local materials, and provide environmental, social and economic benefits, while also enhancing urban resilience.

Oslo's role:

Increased rainfall and urban development lead to more stormwater and urban flooding in Oslo. The stormwater often ends up in the sewage system and flows into rivers and the Oslo Fjord without any treatment, releasing harmful pollutants. Therefore, it is important to use limited space effectively. Nature-based solutions like rain gardens are crucial for mitigating climate change and implementing Oslo's Climate Strategy Towards 2030. It is also important to evaluate the performance of such systems in a Scandinavian climate with cold winters and snowmelt in the spring.

The pilot project in Oslo treats stormwater runoff from Tåsenveien using a rain garden along the road. Tåsenveien is prone to flooding. The rain garden filters and treats runoff from the road, preventing pollutants from reaching rivers and the Oslo Fjord. Sensors measure turbidity, temperature, and water level at the inlet and outlet to evaluate the system's performance. A conductivity sensor and an automated sampling unit are also installed to measure salinity and pollution.

Partners:

Coordinator: INRAE
Research Institutes: ICRA, NIVA, UFZ
Universities: Aarhus University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Institu National Des Sciences Appliquées Lyon, Universidade Federal De Santa Catarina, Montana State University
Municipalities: City of Oslo, Ajuntament de Girona, Città Metropolitana di Milano, Grand Lyon la Metropole
Small and medium enterprises: IRIDRA, Rietland, Alchemia Nova
Non-Profit Organizations: Forum for Equitable Development, ICLEI, Water Europe

Funding:

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 101003527. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the City of Oslo and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.