Project partners: Växjö Municipality, Luleå University of Technology, Tecomatic AB, Tekniska verken i Linköping, Linköping Municipality, Örebro Municipality, Stockholm Vatten och Avfall, Mittsverige Vatten & Avfall, Lumire, Trafikkontoret och Miljöförvaltningen i Stockholm Stad, Miljö och Vatten i Örnsköldsvik AB
Grant: SEK 13 500 000
Project duration: 2025-11-05 to 2028-11-04
Contact person: Malin Engström, Växjö municipality
Purpose and objectives
Pollutants from urban environments are often trapped in sediments and transported to stormwater facilities such as ponds, ditches and wells. These facilities aim to treat stormwater, protect lakes, rivers and groundwater, and also act as buffers to reduce flood risk. However, their function deteriorates when sediments are not removed. Maintenance is often poor due to unclear responsibilities and the challenges of managing large amounts of sediment, while sediment represents a previously untapped resource. The project aims to change the perception of urban sediments from a waste problem to a resource and integrate them into water management through technical solutions, policies and collaborative approaches that reduce the spread of pollution, strengthen infrastructure and enable circular use and resource recovery.
Expected impacts and results
Effective and regular maintenance of stormwater facilities contributes to the Resilient supply and management of water in society. Well-functioning and long-term sustainable water solutions in water-friendly urban areas reduce the spread of harmful substances to surface and groundwater and strengthen climate adaptation. Sustainable sediment management helps to ensure that stormwater sediment can be seen as a resource in circular flows, in line with the Wise use of water goal. By capturing hazardous substances before they reach recipients, the project contributes to Thriving and healthy waters. As the results are relevant to Swedish municipalities as well as the rest of the world, they are scalable at national and international level.
Planned approach and implementation
The project is based on collaboration between research, municipal operations, regulators and technology developers who together cover the full spectrum of roles required for development and implementation: from need owners, users and beneficiaries to enablers, solution owners and experts. The project is structured in three development journeys – concrete sub-projects that reflect the key change needs of the system: Technical framework for smart maintenance and sampling in stormwater systems; Institutional framework for governance of maintenance and sediment management in stormwater systems; and Extraction and reuse of stormwater sediments for prevented dispersion to water bodies.
The text on this page was written by the project team. The content has not been reviewed by our editors.
Goals and tasks
- Resilient supply and management of water in society
- Adapt society to flooding and drought
- Build and manage society in harmony with the waters
- Ensure good drinking water quality
- Secure supply and management of water
- Thriving and healthy waters
- Prevent and reduce the spread of hazardous substances
- Reduce negative impact on water ecosystems
- Wise use of water
- Recycle and reuse water and its resources
