Lublin Rain Gardens. "Rain Gardens. The Well-Watered City"
About this good practice
In recent years, torrential rains have been increasing, while expanding cities are leading to more soil sealing. Thus, flood risk increases, as water cannot be absorbed. The rapid runoff into the sewage system also increases drought problems. The "Rain Gardens. A Well-Watered City" project was implemented as part of the Green Budget 2021, by The City of Lublin and the Sendzimir Foundation. It aimed to: promote knowledge on climate change, urban greenery and water management among residents; show ways of increasing retention; inspire the construction of rain gardens in private properties; and improve living conditions in the immediate vicinity.
The creation of rain gardens on city plots showcased retaining and using rainwater in the place where it falls, as well as increasing residents' awareness of the need to upscale such practices. 9 rain gardens were designed and 6 were built in accessible and visible places. The retention capacity and area of these gardens is 5m3 and 150m2 respectively.
Webinars and field workshops were conducted, external funding was obtained by sponsor companies, and educational facilities, District Councils, and residents were involved in the construction of the rain gardens. The designs are available online and can be adapted to similar locations, using the guide to building rain gardens that was prepared. Based on the experience built, a further rain garden was built in 2024.
Resources needed
The budget of the commune (city of Lublin) PLN 105,000 (9 designs, webinars, field workshops, online manual, a brochure, construction of 4 rain gardens);
Sponsor's share (InPost) PLN 74,800.00 (2 rain gardens constructed);
Total cost: PLN 179,800.00
Evidence of success
• 9 rain garden designs were developed;
• 6 rain gardens were created with a total retention capacity of 5 m3 and a retention area of 150 m2;
• the investments implemented solved the problem of local flooding and increased the quality of urban green areas;
• a “Rain Garden Construction Guide” was developed for residents;
• 3 open educational webinars were held on urban greenery, rainwater retention and social participation;
• sponsors, supported the creation of 2 rain gardens;
Potential for learning or transfer
The project has the potential to be replicated in another geographic area. The problem of extreme weather phenomena, including heavy rainfall occurs in many regions of Europe. The presented good practice can be implemented in virtually every urban center,
e.g. as part of green budgets, with moderate financial outlays. It can be implemented in stages. An important element is also the information and educational activity of residents carried out as part of the project, with the potential possibility of individual implementation of solutions on residents' private properties. As a result of obtaining measurable effects of the project, a decision was made to continue the creation of rain gardens in Lublin. In connection with this, in 2025 the city plans to continue this activity by allocating PLN 100,000 for the design and construction of rain gardens. This aspect should be highlighted when presenting the practice for transfer in other regions.
Further information
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
