All it takes is simply a rainwater, and the streets of Polish cities turn into rivers and torrents. And it's not just a coincidence. Urban sewage systems are incapable to drain abrupt excess water. "Large rainfall can turn tiny urban waterways into uncontrollable water masses causing damage," notes Dr. Marta Bury.
After weeks of drought, the rain yet fell. Over Poland there were strong storms with hail and rain showers, flooding many Polish cities. The retention systems of Toruń, Gniezno, Szczecin, Warsaw and hundreds of another cities failed to cope with excess water.
Is there another thousand-year flood coming? It's possible.
Heavy rains origin clogging of sewer systems and accumulation of water, which has nowhere to drain. Hence paintings of sunk cars, basements and impassable roads. Water has no way of escape, due to the fact that Polish cities are “drowned in concrete”. Dr. Marta Bury from the Institute of Industrial Ecology points out that specified a situation may lead to tragedy.
If there is an intense, several-day rainfall, we are threatened with flooding on a scale of a 1000 years. Polish cities are not prepared for long-term rainfall. A large amount of rainfall in a short time can rapidly turn tiny urban waterways into uncontrolled water masses causing devastation. This will lead to disaster sooner or later. The ubiquitous concrete is ineffective, and the disaster will be real if the cities do not begin debetone paved surfaces – he explains in an interview with o2pl Dr. Funeral.
According to the expert, the script of flooding and flooding is real. "The rainfall is more intense today. This is related to climate change, including violent weather fronts passing through Poland" - explains the specialist from the Katowice institute. dense rainfall is heavy burdened by retention systems.
Urban sewage systems in cities are not adapted to specified intense rainfall. Rainwater should be kept in the city mainly in green areas, which is straight infiltrated into the ground. The ubiquitous concrete, both in construction and covering, limits this path. The wells are incapable to drain rainwater, and dense rains flood useful surfaces," explains Dr. Marta Bury.
The ceremony emphasizes that the problem concerns most Polish cities. The management of rainwaters is irrational, leading to the failure of valuable water that can be collected and used.
Optimumly stopping about 50-60% of precipitation would importantly improve the sustainable management of the environment in cities and at the same time improve the quality of life of residents," added a prof. from the Institute of Industrial Ecology.
There's inactive time before the flood to save yourself.
The expert explains to us why local authorities have specified a “love” for concrete spilling. According to Dr. Marty Funeral, “the concrete is easy to keep and keep clean.” economical considerations are besides involved. A specialist from the Institute of Industrial Ecology adds that "grass is an additional cost". However, there is an effective alternative.
However, let us look at this issue differently. The flowerbed, which does not make specified costs, is able to halt 30% more rainfall than a simple masonry," explains the environmental protection and shaping specialist.
Other ways to fight floods in Polish cities are the usage of perennial plants or the laying of permeable surfaces in parking lots. Plants placed in the space between the ankles effectively usage rainwater. alleged dry rivers were created in Katowice.
According to Dr. Marta Bury, these are “the collapses of the area that can fill up with water during intense rainfall, creating blue infrastructure, and then, erstwhile the water dries, become an attractive part of the landscape”.
Importantly, ubiquitous concrete can shortly only become an embarrassing historical curiosity. In April 2024, it was announced that the Ministry of Climate and Environment wanted to amend the "Environmental Law".
According to the revised city project, over 20,000 inhabitants will gotta have urban adaptation plans for climate change. In the strategy, cities must indicate how and where they will introduce green and blue spaces.
Dr. Marta ceremony is happy with the changes. He stresses that any cities have already begun to implement specified plans.
It is very good that cities are required to draw up urban adaptation plans for climate change and to make plans for the introduction of green and blue infrastructure into urban space (based on maps of urban heat islands) - the expert estimates.
Dr. Marta Bury adds that many mayors have already asked the Katowice Institute to aid implement specified a plan.
Some mayors are wise before harm and look at the problems of their neighbors, following common sense. The law requiring action is 1 thing, but common sense is besides crucial in this matter. It is besides crucial to educate residents in this area, indicating the aesthetic and applicable value of green solutions in cities, especially if we advance natural plants, thus expanding biodiversity in cities – the expert summarizes in a conversation with o2.pl.
Continued here:
Polish cities are drowning after the rain: an expert warns of the flood of thousands of years
