ISWIM – Innovative stormwater impact mitigation

As cities continue to grow and climate change brings both heavier rainfall and longer periods of drought, new demands are being placed on the way we manage stormwater. Today, rainwater from roofs, roads and other impermeable surfaces often flows into lakes, watercourses and the sea without sufficient treatment.

The ISWIM project investigates both how stormwater can be treated more effectively and how it can be used as a local water resource within properties. The aim is to develop sustainable solutions that protect aquatic environments while reducing the use of drinking water.

The project addresses two key challenges:

Space-efficient, resource-efficient yet advanced treatment of large volumes of stormwater from the built environment.
On-site stormwater treatment for direct use of stormwater within properties.

Why are current stormwater treatment methods not enough?

Ponds and wetlands are currently the most common methods for treating stormwater, and they will continue to play an important role in the future. However, they require large areas of land and are therefore not suitable everywhere, particularly in densely populated urban areas. In addition, they may struggle to remove all the pollutants found in stormwater from urban environments.

There is therefore a need for space-efficient treatment systems capable of providing more advanced treatment. Such systems could be used on their own or as an additional treatment stage to improve water quality after treatment in a stormwater pond.

Could rainwater replace drinking water in the buildings of the future?

Alongside the challenge of managing and treating increasing volumes of rainfall, society is also facing longer periods of drought, declining groundwater levels and growing competition for drinking water resources.

If rainwater can be captured, treated and used directly within properties, it offers a double benefit: reducing the demand for drinking water while also decreasing the amount of stormwater that needs to be managed and conveyed away. There is considerable interest within the property sector in developing innovative solutions that make better use of rainwater.

New solutions are being tested in Lund and Malmö

By studying these solutions in real-life settings, researchers can gain valuable insights into both their technical performance and practical application.
The project is developing and evaluating treatment technologies for larger stormwater flows at the Värpinge Wetland in Lund. At the same time, property-scale solutions are being tested in locations including Sege Park in Malmö, where treated water is intended to partially replace drinking water.

From research to solutions that can be implemented in cities

A social science component of the project will explore how to generate interest in the technologies and reduce barriers to their wider adoption and use in society.
To encourage innovation, the project employed a design sprint methodology at an early stage as a creative and strategic process. This helped develop prototypes that address not only the challenges associated with increasingly stringent discharge requirements, but also practical usability, economic viability, space constraints and public acceptance.

Project funding is provided by Blue Innovation – Implementation Projects.

Study visit?

Are you interested in visiting the Värpinge wetland and pilot facility, and learning more about the ISWIM project? Please answer the questions below in an email to info@swrab.se, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We require a couple of months’ notice, so please make sure to plan ahead.