sustainable water supply in urban areas

• a sustainable water supply depends on individuals using as little water as possible
• this involves collecting and recycling water rather than relying solely on water pumped from reservoirs
• homes need to have roof gardens, with facilities for rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling
• groundwater is the most important source of drinking water and has to be protected from pollution, as water soaks through green open spaces, they filter out pollutants
• Freiburgs waste water system allows rainwater to be retained, reused or to seep back into the ground
• there are financial incentives for people to use water sparingly
• in the Vauban district, in addition to the may open spaces, water conservation involves:

  • collecting rainwater for use indoors
  • green roofs
  • previous pavements that allow rainwater to soak through
  • unpaved tramways
  • drainage wetlands
• water in the River Dreisam which flows through Freiberg is managed using floor retention basins, these reduce the danger of flooding by storing excess water, which can then be used in the city, they have been designed to fit naturally into the scenery of the black forest