Working with water for an attractive city

John Jacobs Water Management Department Public Works Facts & figures of Rotterdam

1) the largest harbour of Europe - 30 km harbour 2) the second city of the - 600.000 inhabitants - 2500 km sewer system 3) three waterboards - 400 km canals - 600 pumping stations in the river Rotte Harbour of Rotterdam

Development of the Harbour in time Rotterdam and water nowadays Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water Rotterdam and water

1. Rotterdam in Europe

North Sea

Amsterdam

Rotterdam

Rhine If we do nothing …..

Veluwe Amsterdam

Den Haag Rotterdam …. where is the emergency exit?

Veluwe Amsterdam

Den Haag Rotterdam

Delft This is coming to Rotterdam Precipitation

riv er d isch arge

Ri sin g se ale vel Groundwater Rotterdam already has a problem And it’s only getting worse

More intensive rainfall Stormwater, groundwater and sewers

Reported waterproblems in 24 hrs.

There is a problem already….

… and more trouble to be expected Sea level rise and river discharges Old focus

Watersafety Waterquantities Waterquality

Water = Threat This is going on in Rotterdam This is going on in Rotterdam

Werkend Working people

Uitkering

Student

Pensioen

Inactief

-5000 -2500 0 2500 5000 7500 10000 12500 15000 Green: peopleaantal who personen are leaving Blue: people who are coming in Red: Vertrekkers Blue minusVestigers green (balance)Saldo Inspiration: Rotterdam Watercity 2035 Focus on existing qualities Focus on needs people

3 major missing living environments Downtown urban dwellings

Calm urban dwellings

Downtown urban environments

Calm urban environments Green urban dwellings Green urban environments Synergy

watersafety waterquantity waterquality Spatial planning + Water = Opportunity!

spatial development strategy 2030

But we have to act now ... The Challenge

We have to act now! (bifurcation point theory)

WithWith aa littlelittle energy…energy… 2070 Unsafety

2007

Time 2035 Rotterdam is protected

An adaptive strategy for our dykes and waterproof building in the near-river areas (floating city concept, buildings on poles etc.) Super levees combined with city parks (flexible solutions) Water for an attractive city!

Enforce existing qualities: • Extra water where it is possible, innovative solutions where needed • Extra surface water in reconstruction areas • Development of new housing concepts in old port areas Innovations

240.000 m3 Extra waterstorage for 2050 in city centre and “old city neigbourhoods” Innovations

Innovative where needed? Watersquares Innovations

- Storage of water - Reducing the heat island effect - Improving quality of the air - Adding more green space - Saving energy - More biological diversity

Green roofs Innovations Implementation with our waterpartners

Fast if needed, slower when possible... What are the priorities? 1 urgent: now or never 2 use opportunities (other developments) 3 focus on attractive examples 4 multipurpose Cooperation is essential

1. Different organisations, different responsabilities and tasks 2. Complex challenges and high costs need a broad pact of waterpartners 3. Expensive and innovative solutions ask for a broad basis and (inter)national exposure Conclusions

• We can use the threat of water for strenghtening the main ambitions of the Rotterdam: Water brings opportunities for a more attractive city • Regular solutions are not enough anymore: we do need innovations • We need to do it together Thank you for your attention