WELCOME to the European NWRM platform

The EU Directorate General Environment promotes the use of nature-based green infrastructure solutions (official website) and this is progressively included in a range of policies of which for water. A range of activities and related relevant information portals are also available on climate change (Climate Adapt), on biodiversity (BISE), on forest (FISE).

As detailed on DG Environment official webpage, "Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) support Green Infrastructure by contributing to integrated goals dealing with nature and biodiversity conservation and restoration, landscaping, etc."

The current platform gathers information on NWRM at EU level. NWRM are green infrastructures applied to the water sector, which permit to achieve and maintain healthy water ecosystems, and offer multiple benefits.
From this page you can find out more about NWRM definition, browse NWRM related concepts, look for individual NWRMs or select them by benefits, access the practical guide that will help you find your way to implement NWRM, or directly access the different products: synthesis documents, catalogue of measures, catalogue of case studies. For easy navigation, please consult the user's guide. If ,you would like to have an overview on what this website could bring you, you can Access all main documents and datasets

You can also join us on LinkedIn and access the NWRM community of practice gathered on our discussion forum, and you can submit a case study...

NEW: Access new French case studies

 

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Jardin des Eaux (water garden) in Fourqueux, a water management system for the city centre

Photo gallery
View of the central pond of the water garden, © AGENCE ATM
Summary
The city of Fourqueux (4000 inhabitants) has redesigned its urban space to build social housing. A plot of land has been set up at the heart of this area to collect and manage rainwater from the requalified area. Called water garden, the park collects water from 1.7 hectares of permeable and impervious area to allow it to infiltrate through a succession of temporary basins and a permanent one. It thus avoids the direct discharge of this rainwater into the separative network connected to the Seine. The water garden also acts as a natural space in the heart of a residential area, and allows the history of the municipality to be highlighted through cultural activities and the permanent display of old agricultural machinery.

Functional restoration of the valley of Saint Ruph-Glière-Eau Morte

Photo gallery
The Eau Morte river, CdC Sources du lac d'Annecy
Summary
Due to major developments over the past two centuries, the Eau Morte Valley (a tributary of Annecy Lake) has a hydrosedimentary dysfunction with incised areas and areas with sediment excesses and an alluvial marsh disconnected from flooding. To reduce the impacts of the river's floods on uses, and to prevent the risk of urban areas flooding, a functional restoration programme for the valley has been developed by the federation of municipalities of Annecy lake sources. It was based on the renaturation of the Eau Morte bed, the functional restoration of the Giez marsh and the construction of crossing structures. This work has given the marsh a role as a flood expansion area. This project was also carried out by involving local residents in a process of territorial dialogue so that they themselves would be actors in the area and would participate in its management.
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DEFINITION

Natural Water Retention Measures are multi-functional measures that aim to protect water resources and address water-related challenges by restoring or maintaining ecosystems as well as natural features and characteristics of water bodies using natural means and processes. […]

Source: “EU policy document on Natural Water Retention Measures”, WG PoM, 2014)

 

full definition

Case studies

Measures have been implemented in the field.
To see examples of implementation see the catalogue of case studies or click directly on the map below.

Catalogue of case studies

in-depth light

DECISION SUPPORT FOR NWRM IMPLEMENTATION

Information on benefits, costs, effectiveness, financing etc. included in the three following categories:


Partners

Logos of all partners of NWRM project