The Municipality of Budapest has completed a stormwater management strategy that puts the city’s water management on a new footing in response to climate change. Its aims are to reduce the risk of flash floods, ease the urban heat island effect and help use rainwater locally. The city says its drainage system, resting on foundations more than a hundred years old, no longer gives enough protection on its own.
Why the city is changing course
Budapest increasingly faces extreme weather: intense downpours, flash floods, longer dry periods and stronger heatwaves. These changes put heavy pressure on the stormwater drainage network. The strategy therefore calls for a change of approach and treats rainwater as a resource that can be used locally, rather than as a problem.
How the new approach works
At the centre of the strategy is the idea that as much rain as possible should be retained, stored and used where it falls, instead of being sent into the sewers. According to the city, this:
- reduces the risk of flooding and damage;
- relieves the sewer network;
- helps maintain green spaces;
- moderates the urban heat island effect.
The city describes a future Budapest where streets, parks and squares work as water-retaining systems and green-blue infrastructure is connected as a network.
The tools proposed
The strategy proposes a wide set of tools, including:
- rain gardens, green roofs and permeable paving;
- developing rainwater storage and stormwater retention basins;
- delaying and regulating runoff;
- reusing grey water and rainwater;
- combining green, blue and grey infrastructure.
Public awareness work, data collection and stronger cooperation between the city’s districts also play a prominent role.
What happens next
The strategy’s goal is for Budapest to become a more liveable, resilient and climate-adaptive city by 2035. Implementation will take place in several phases, with continuous follow-up and a review every three years, so that the city can adapt to changing environmental and social challenges.