Context
This article explores the potential of stormwater to recharge urban aquifers and sustain city lakes through a demonstration case in Bucharest’s Circus Lake area. By integrating surface water and groundwater modelling, monitoring, and hydraulic analysis, the project examines how urban stormwater can be more effectively managed. Key activities include data collection, stormwater treatment, bioretention system design, and assessment of lake–aquifer interactions. The work aims to reduce pressure on sewer networks while enhancing urban water resilience. It contributes to the objectives of the European Water Resilience Strategy by translating local data into practical solutions for sustainable urban water management.
Can Rainwater Help Recharge Urban Aquifers and Sustain City Lakes?
Urban areas increasingly face pressure on water resources due to climate change, population growth, and the expansion of impervious surfaces. One promising approach to enhance urban water resilience is the strategic use of stormwater to support groundwater recharge and sustain urban lakes.
Within Demo Case #1 in Bucharest, focused on the Circus Lake area, our work investigates this potential by integrating surface water and groundwater processes. The project combines advanced modelling, field monitoring, and hydraulic analysis of urban infrastructure to better understand interactions between stormwater, aquifers, and surface water bodies.
Key Areas of Work
The activities carried out within this demonstration case include:
- Development of urban hydrologic and hydrogeologic conceptual models
- Collection and analysis of data related to rainfall, stormwater runoff, groundwater, sewer systems, and urban infrastructure
- Implementation of a pilot stormwater treatment device
- Hydraulic quantification of the unsaturated zone and assessment of lake–aquifer interactions
- Design of a small-scale bioretention system
- Urban stormwater modelling to evaluate capture, treatment, and reuse scenarios
Towards More Resilient Urban Water Systems
The primary objective of this work is to improve understanding of how stormwater can be effectively captured, treated, and reused within dense urban environments. By doing so, the project aims to reduce pressure on sewer networks, enhance groundwater recharge, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of urban lakes.
This demonstration case directly supports the broader objectives of the European Water Resilience Strategy, translating scientific data and local knowledge into practical, scalable solutions for more resilient urban landscapes.