Reconstruction of the Lepiku channel in Tallinn's Botanic Garden, Estonia

General

National Id:

Estonia_03

Site name:

Lepiku channel

Summary:

Reconstruction of the Lepiku channel that is a part of the drainage system, which starts from the new residential area next to the Tallinn Botanic Garden and includes wetlands, detention ponds, ditches and channels and debouches into Pirita river. The aim was to improve the quality of the storm water that flows into the Pirita river. The river Pirita is a part of Natura 2000 site and flows into the Baltic Sea. The length of the reconstructed channel part is ca 195 m and the works included: widening of channel bottom in different segments, creating artificial dykes and rapids and creating suitable conditions to the aquatic plants exhibits in Botanic Garden.

NUTS Code:

Eesti

RBD code:

EE1

Transboundary:

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Channels and rills

Longitude:

24.8764

Latitude:

59.4822

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

450

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Type:

Actual Test Site

Light or indepth?:

Light

Vegetation class:

Botanic garden area where near the channel are different plants

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring parameters:

Monitored will be in future water quality (N, P etc)

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Catchment outlet

Biophysical impacts

Information on Water quality overall improvements:

In last ten years it was noticed that in the years that were warmer and had less precipitation the water started to “bloom” – satiated with different algae and aquatic plants were proliferating which refers to nitrogen and phosphorus inflow from Lepiku channel catchment where a lot of new buildings have been built. It is also possible that the bottom of one pond is polluted by fuel oil that that was flowing in there from a boiler house that was situated in the bank of the pond in 1980s. That meant that excessive amount of suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds and possibly oil products end up in the gulf of Finland that is 2,5 km away via Pirita river. Reconstruction and cleaning of the Lepiku channel means that cleaner water will flow in to the Botanic Garden’ s ponds and later in Pirita river and in the Gulf of Finland – this way improving the ecological status of water. As works are not yet finalised then chane cannot be estimated.

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

Not available yet

Financing mechanism information:

Project was financed by LIFE+, Minitry of the Environment of Finland and City of Tallinn

financing funding solutions:

Usaually LIFE+ cofinancing is 50% but in agreement the share was raised based on the co-financing of Finnish MoE to 84,91% which left to City of Tallinn co-financing share of 15,09 %

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Financing possibilities	main factor	measeure was implemented in frame of the LIFE+ project “Benchmarking water protection in cities – CITYWATER” (LIFE 11 ENV/FI/000909)
Legal obligations	secondary factor	Achieving good ecological quality of waters by 2015 (WFD)
Other	main factor	The success of the project can be evaluated on two levels. The first is the population, land owners and the government's awareness. The project has justified itself when in the Lepiku channel upper course rainwater is handled by using local solutions rather than just leading the water into a sewerage. The second positive aspect of the project is the quality of water that runs from the Lepingu water course into Pirita river. It is assumed that in the reconstructed area of the ditch, the self-cleaning system is quite effective. However, to prove this, it will be necessary to monitor the area. Monitoring will commence right after the ending of reconstruction.

Financing:

Type	Comments
EU-funds: LIFE+	LIFE+ project “Benchmarking water protection in cities – CITYWATER” (LIFE 11 ENV/FI/000909)
Local funds	Cofinancing by City of Tallinn
Other	Cofinancing by Ministry of the Environment of Finland

Barrier:

Type	Role	Comments
Other	main barrier	1. The biggest drawback was caused by weather. Because of the long and heavy raining period, movement for mechanisms was hindered; on both sides of the watercourse different collections of trees were planted and the area for mechanisms to move was quite narrow. 2. One more drawback was with electrical cable, which was mentioned in the project, but the location (depth) was different. The problem was solved by adding one extra culvert under the cable and rebuilding one small section to ensure the right slope. 3. Soil erosion, which was caused by heavy rain again, was solved by placing natural grass carpet instead of waiting grass to grow from seeds.

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Legal obligations	main driver	Achieving good ecological quality of waters by 2015 (WFD)
Other	main driver	Availability of funds - measeure was implemented in frame of the LIFE+ project “Benchmarking water protection in cities – CITYWATER” (LIFE 11 ENV/FI/000909)

Financing share:

Share type	Share	Comments
European funds	84.91	LIFE + and Finnish MoE together - 84,91 %
National funds	15.09	Tallinn City - 15,09 %

Socio-economic

Direct benefits information:

Reconstruction and cleaning of the Lepiku channel means that cleaner water will flow in to the Botanic Garden’ s ponds and later in Pirita river and in the Gulf of Finland – this way improving the ecological status of water.

Ancillary benefits information:

The reconstruction of the Lepiku channel on the territory of Tallinn Botanic Garden may be handled as a pilot project, the objective of which is to raise awareness of the residents of the area. In the lower course of the reconstructed ditch the self-cleaning system should be more effective than in the straight, piped upper course, as is the case at the moment in the upper course. The innovation, by most part, lies in the fact that with very simple means and relatively low cost it is possible to build a self-cleaning, aesthetically enjoyable rainwater handling solution. The solution will help the residents of the drainage area to understand the need the importance of water conservation and offers inspiration to land owners whose land the ditch passes through, and hopefully helps them to understand that an attractively and effectively built ditch will increase the value of their land, rather than be a possible area for problems.

Costs investment:

35000

Costs investment information:

reconstruction works including materials and designn

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

No information

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

No information

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

No information available

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

There are in total 9 ponds in the territory of Tallinn Botanic Garden, some of them feed on springs and the water collected in the Botanic Garden´s territory but most of the water is coming from Lepiku channel (catchment 150,4 ha). Most of the ponds were built in 1963-1965 on channels that existed before. The Lepiku channel that is feeding the ponds of Botanic Garden has not been cleaned for years. Additionally the channel is partly closed to pipes which hinder water runoff and self-cleaning of water. The ponds have been cleaned and the banks been fixed depending on financial possibilities. In last ten years it was noticed that in the years that were warmer and had less precipitation the water started to “bloom” – satiated with different algae and aquatic plants were proliferating which refers to nitrogen and phosphorus compounds’ inflow from Lepiku channel catchment where a lot of new buildings have been built. It is also possible that the bottom of one pond is polluted by fuel oil that that was flowing in there from a boiler house that was situated in the bank of the pond in 1980s. That meant that excessive amount of suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds and possibly oil products end up in the gulf of Finland that is 2,5 km away via Pirita river.

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Wider plan type	Wider plan focus	Name	Comments
Local	Water	Development plan of Tallinn 2009-2027	5th main objective: citizen of Tallinn connecting sustainably home, work and rest – Tallinn with cosy, inspiring and environmentally sustainable urban space, 5.4 Technical infrastructure services are of high quality, available for residents of the city and meet the safety and environmental protection requirements Measure 2: guaranteeing channelling of storm and surface water Link to the document: https://www.tallinn.ee/eng/g3230s54397
Local	Water	Tallinn Environmental Strategy 2030	Point 2.3.1.3.(Coastal waters) states that the aim is to restore the ecological balance in marine environment and guaranteediversity of nature and achieve in necessary water quality in the recreational areas. Point 2.3.2 (rain water) emphasizes the need to work out concept for rain/storm water removal. Link to the document: http://issuu.com/tallinna_keskkonnaamet/docs/strateegia_ingl/3?e=0
Local	Water	Tallinn public water supply and sewerage development plan 2010-2021	Point 10 (storm water systems) maps the bottlenecks related to storm water removal, including the degrading impact of water flowing in from the urban region to the status of Tallinn Botanic Garden ponds both in quantitative and qualitative way, which in turn degrades the quality of storm water flowing in Pirita river
Local	Water	Tallinn stormwater strategy to 2030	Point 3.2.11 (new catchments) foresees the development of Lepiku-Laiaküla catchment as the area needs researches and development of holistic solution in order to guarantee storm water removal and good status of Tallinn Botanic Garden ponds. Point 6.1 sets the strategic aim to achieve ecological status of storm water recipients (coastal sea and inland water bodies of Tallinn) and continuous improving of the storm water quality that flows in the recipient water bodies.

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Pollutants Removal

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Plot

Installation date:

2015

Performance timescale:

1 - 4 years

Area (ha):

150.4

Size:

195

Size unit:

Favourable preconditions:

The aim for Tallinn Botancal Garden was reorganisation of the channel section. And not just cleaning the channel and ensuring banks but while doing it to keep in mind water purification, water regime regulation and aesthetic appearance. Aim was to design a modern, eco-friendly and not very costly solution, which would set a good example for the other channels and trenches in Tallinn. Maybe to change the the way of thinking to solve the problem through hiding water into the pipe underground instead bringing it visuable in the channel on the ground

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Other	Initiation of the measure	1. Tallinn Environment Department	Tallinn city Environment department
	Determination of design details of the measure	6. 4People OÜ	Innovative approach, all design was made by Gen Mandre from 4people OÜ (www.4people.ee). He is also involved in the project “(D)rain for Life” which is concentrated on Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) - http://drainforlife.eu/index.php/en/).
	Implementation	3. Construction company	Construction works ordered by Tallinn Environment Department
	Other	2. Tallinn University	Carried out a survey in coastal parishes (in Baltic countries) with the aim to find out the attitude of people towards environmental protection measures and their practice
	Other	4. Tallinn Botanic Garden	Getting reconstructed channel in their territory
	Other	5. Citizens of Tallinn	Getting new information

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

Miscellanous

Main menu

Reconstruction of the Lepiku channel in Tallinn's Botanic Garden, Estonia

Partners