Rivers and lakes in European cities

Publication Created 20 Oct 2016 Published 25 Oct 2016

1 min read

Most European cities have at least one river or lake crossing their urban landscape. Urbanisation has come at a cost to rivers and lakes, as they have been heavily degraded to enable development, carry waste, supply drinking water and facilitate transport and industry.

Publication Created 20 Oct 2016 Published 25 Oct 2016

1 min read

EEA Report No 26/2016

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EEA-26-2016-Rivers and lakes_THAL16025ENN.pdf [1007.8 KB]

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Annex - Rivers and lakes in European cities [6.3 MB]

In recent decades, and after a gradual improvement in water quality due to wastewater treatment and reduced industrial activities, urban rivers and lakes have become increasingly important in the planning of urban ecology, green infrastructure, green areas and climate change adaptation in European cities.

The report describes water management issues related to rivers and lakes and outline the ways in which European cities develop strategies and measures to cope with the key challenges they currently face in relation to their inland surface waters. The report uses 17 case studies on urban river and lake restoration to illustrate important aspects on urban and water management. Finally, the report draws some important lessons learned from the case studies reviewed and frames some key contextual issues that are potentially relevant to different urban settings across Europe.

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Close up — Water in the city We often take a reliable supply of clean water for granted. We turn on the tap and clean water comes out, we use it and the ‘dirty’ water goes down the drain. For a large majority of Europeans, the water we use at home is of drinking quality and available 24 hours a day. The brief moment between the tap and the drain is only a very small part of its overall journey. Managing water in a city is not limited to public water systems. Climate change, urban sprawl and alterations to river basins can all lead to more frequent and damaging floods in cities, leaving authorities faced with an ever-growing challenge.

World Water Day: Turning to nature for solutions Nature-based solutions are playing an increasingly important role to better protect Europeans against floods, droughts and water pollution. On World Water Day 2018, the European Environment Agency is highlighting the importance of clean water and how nature can help protect this valuable resource for generations to come.

Restoring European rivers and lakes in cities improves quality of life Rivers and lakes located in European cities and towns are getting cleaner thanks to improvements in waste water treatment and restoration projects which have brought many waterways back to life. New forms of water management contribute to make our cities greener, smarter and more sustainable, but key challenges remain, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) released today.

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Geographic coverage

Albania , Austria , Belgium , Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Croatia , Cyprus , Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/99) , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malta , Montenegro , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Serbia , Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , United Kingdom

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Dynamic

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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/rivers-and-lakes-in-cities or scan the QR code.

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