Working with water for an attractive city
John Jacobs Water Management Department Public Works Rotterdam Facts & figures of Rotterdam
1) the largest harbour of Europe - 30 km harbour 2) the second city of the - 600.000 inhabitants Netherlands - 2500 km sewer system 3) three waterboards - 400 km canals - 600 pumping stations Dam 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