Ecological handling of rain water in Tingbjerg

The "Tingbjerg" study area is a relatively small (50 hectares) catchment which discharges combined sewerage during rain via overflows to an urban lake in the western suburbs of Copenhagen. Extensive renovation of the apartment blocks in the area can be foreseen during the next decade, and there is a unique opportunity for simultaneously retrofitting the combined sewer system. Solutions based on infiltrating stormwater locally are possible but need to be negotiated with the local residents' associations. Copenhagen Water is particularly interested in uncovering the potential for reducing the hydraulic load of wastewater treatment plants and solving surface water quality problems by implementing structural and non-structural best management practices for stormwater control. At the same time, we wish to assess the possible negative environmental effects (i.e. pollution of urban soils and groundwaters). The "Tingbjerg" study area is used as a model catchment for developing new procedures for stormwater control.