Protecting the Baltic Sea from untreated wastewater spillages during flood events in urban areas
Interreg Baltic Sea Region NOAH
- Duration: January 2019 - December 2021
- Budget: total 3 000 000 / ERDF 2 430 000
- Financier: Interreg Baltic Sea Region
- Lead partner: Tallinn University of Technology
- Project partners: 9 towns & water utilities, 7 academic & research institutions, 2 umbrella institutions
Better urban planning, better control of the urban drainage system, shared knowledge in the Baltic Sea region.

Project Partners
-
Tallinn University of Technology
TalTech (EE) is the Lead Partner of NOAH with vast experience of international projects and a strong research group in environmental engineering. The team consists of Nils Kändler, Ivar Annus and Katrin Kaur (from the left in the photo) as well as Anatoli Vassiljev and Liina Kotkas. -
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
SAMK (FI) is responsible for the communication of the NOAH project, ensuring smooth cooperation between the project partners, associated organizations as well as stakeholders throughout NOAH's lifespan. The team consists of Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Hanna Rissanen (in the photo) and Leila Tasku. -
Gdansk University of Technology
GUT (PL) is one of the experts of environmental engineering in the NOAH project with profound academic experience in the technical, economic and environmental aspects of urban runoff management. The team consists of Magdalena Gajewska and Piotr Zima. -
City of Rakvere
Rakvere (EE) is one of the partner towns and pilot areas of the NOAH project. They will lead the data acquisition from urban drainage systems and share knowledge on smart city solutions. The team consists of Erkki Leek and Angeelika Pärna. -
Liepaja municipal authority "Komunālā pārvalde"
Liepaja(LV) is one of the partner towns of the NOAH project and serves as one of the pilot areas and shares experience in mitigating the effects of high sea water levels and untreated wastewater spillages. The team consists of Mārtiņš Herbsts and Egils Muižulis. -
Natural Resources Institute Finland LUKE
LUKE (FI) is one of the research institutions in the NOAH project. Luke is specialized in environmental monitoring and has strong competence in environmental risk assessment. The team consists of Marja-Liisa Vieraankivi and Virpi Vorne. -
Estonian Waterworks Association EVEL
EVEL (EE) is one of the umbrella organizations of water companies in NOAH. EVEL has vast knowledge in the field of water operators and they will provide network input and disseminate the results of NOAH. The team consists of Irina Vahtra, Marju Murumets and Pille Aarma. -
City of Pori
Pori (FI) is one of the partner towns and pilot areas of the NOAH project. Pori has profound knowledge on river flood control and on sustaining runoff water quality in case of high water levels. In addition, Pori has special expertise on assessing the risk of ice-blockages and protecting urban areas by dikes. The team consists of Taina Koivisto, Pekka Vuola (in the photo) and Aleksi Siirtola. -
Halmstad University
Halmstad University (SE) is the expert of knowledge and risk management in the NOAH project. With excellent competence in environmental impact assessment, they are in charge of evaluating the consequences of climate scenarios focusing on extensive runoff and discharge. The team consists of Susanne Durst, Sylvia Waara and Pia Ulvenblad. -
Economic Chamber Polish Waterworks IGWP
IGWP (PL) is one of the umbrella organizations of water companies in the NOAH project. IGWP has vast knowledge in the field of Polish water utilities and an extensive cooperation network in the Baltic Sea region. IGWP distributes the results and achievements of NOAH and supports municipalities in including the new solutions into their everyday planning processes. The team consists of Natalia Przepierska and Klara Ramm. -
Riga Technical University
RTU (LV) is one of the academies in the NOAH project with high experience in data management and hydrodynamic modelling. In NOAH, RTU leads the process of validating and generalizing the test results of reducing urban runoff-driven water quality impairments. The team consists of Maris Kalinka, Andrejs Zubanics, Marta Zemite and Janis Rubulis. -
Ogre municipality
Ogre (LV) is one of the partner towns and pilot areas of NOAH. Ogre shares their experience in mitigating high water level impacts on urban drainage systems and untreated wastewater spillages. Ogre also tests automate hydrological stations and provides data for the Real Time Control implementation. The team consists of Liene Zilina and Edgars Parpucis. -
Slupsk Water Supply
Slupsk Water Supply (PL) is one of the water companies in the NOAH project. Slupsk Water Supply has competence in urban drainage planning with special emphasize on separating stormwater from wastewater systems. In NOAH, they lead the process of increasing institutional capacity of urban run-off management, aiming for reducing wastewater spillages. The team consists of Robert Zmuda-Trzebiatowski, Jolanta Fracka and Remigiusz Lyszyk. -
Technical University of Denmark
DTU (DK) is the leading academy investigating real time controlling of the urban drainage systems in Europe. In NOAH, DTU shares their expertise of Real Time Control algorithms and leads the process of RTC modelling and model based data validation. The team consists of Morten Borup and Jonas Wied Pedersen. -
Jurmalas Udens Ltd
Jurmalas Udens Ltd (LV) is one of the water companies in the NOAH project. Jurmala has special knowledge on river-sea interactions and their effects on urban drainage systems. In NOAH, Jurmalas Udens will share their experience in mitigating high water level impacts on urban drainage network and bring hands-on practical experience into developing NOAH control measures. The team consists of Zanda Kocere-Vika, Aivars Kamarūts and Kristīne Bendža. -
Municipality of Söderhamn
Söderhamn (SE) is one of the partner towns and pilot areas of NOAH. Söderhamn has vast competence in urban planning and risk level monitoring regarding extreme weather events. In the project, Söderhamn leads the process of creating better urban planning and enhanced risk mitigation. The team consists of Camilla Bergström, Ingemar Olofsson, Margareta Örn-Liljedahl (in the photo) and Maria Svensson.
Associated Organisations
NOAH pilot sites
The NOAH project aims to protect the Baltic Sea from untreated wastewater spillages during flood events in urban areas. In the process of creating the NOAH concept, the methods of storm water management, spatial planning and real-time control of urban drainage systems are tested as a holistic entity in selected NOAH pilot areas. The sites 1) are situated next to the natural water body (sea, river, channel) connected directly to the Baltic Sea where extra flow rates in the urban drainage system poses a risk of wastewater spillages during extreme weather events, 2) have an existing urban drainage system built, 3) have potential for further planning activities such as new house blocks, parking lots etc. The aim of the pilot activities is to test and implement a set of solutions which as the NOAH concept are scalable to any urban area in the Baltic Sea region.
Click the names for information on the sites and on NOAH actions.
Site description Söderhamn is a coastal municipality located in the bay of Söderhamn, at the outlet of Söderala river. The pilot area was chosen because the central parts of Söderhamn are most severely affected when a heavy rainfall occurs. In addition, some densification of the area is expected to happen with new buildings, changes in park areas and streets. The Söderhamn pilot area consists of 11 sub-catchments. Four of them have outlets to a natural stream and the rest to the narrow bay of the Baltic Sea, most of them submerged. The stormwater from e.g. roofs is still directed to the sewer system and therefore there are several combined sewer overflow (CSO) structures. These CSOs are equipped with backflow valves to avoid seawater entering the sewer.
NOAH actions Storm Water management model (SWMM) is created for the area and calibrated on the basis of flow measurements. Extreme Weather Layer (EWL) as a planning tool to create more flood resilient urban space is the main outcome of the modelling. Flood risk maps for different climate scenarios will be embedded to the municipality’s urban planning procedure. This allows urban planners to evaluate the impact of any development plan on climate resilience.
Site description Pori is a town on the south-west coast of Finland, located about 10 kilometers from the Gulf of Bothnia on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river. The NOAH pilot area is Suntinoja ditch catchment area from where water exits into the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the 4th largest waterbody catchment area in Finland. The catchment area consists of fields, forests and an urban residential area. The ground surface is flat, which increases drainage problems and stormwater and snowmelt flood threat. Besides the risk to property, flooding increases contaminant and nutrient migration into the Baltic Sea. The Suntinoja ditch was originally designed for drainage of agricultural areas, so its capacity may not be enough in heavy rainfall situations, and may begin to flood residential areas through stormwater drains.
NOAH actions Main ditches of the area are mapped, and calibration measurements are carried out by the city of Pori. Storm Water management model (SWMM) is created for the area. The modelling determines the effects of different types of heavy rain events and can be used to examine the impact of residential construction on Suntinoja’s capacity. Water sampling is conducted to analyze the quality of the stormwater and for modelling it in different flood situations. No actual Real-Time Control (RTC) installations are made since the outflow from the system is not restricted as the outlet pump has large capacity, and since the system performs similarly in terms of flooding throughout the city. The actual problem is more linked to the water level in the surrounding ditches and the related risk of flooding.
Site description Rakvere is a municipality in northern Estonia, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. There are two waterbodies in Rakvere, Soolikaoja creek and Tobia mainditch. The Tobia mainditch flows down to the Soolikaoja creek, the Soolikaoja flows down to river Selja and the river flows to the Baltic sea. The Tobia mainditch catchment area is 31,8 km² and the Soolikaoja catchment area 122,1 km². The selected pilot area of about 1 km² is located in the middle of the town. According to the climate scenarios, this area has the highest flood risk.
NOAH actions Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of the area is created, calibrated and validated based on measurements made on the site. Movable weir with Real-Time Control (RTC) is installed for the Soolikaoja creek to reduce flooding in the downstream city by using the storage capacity in an upstream lake. The construction works of the system will be completed by the end of 2020. Extreme Weather Layer (EWL) as a planning tool for more flood resilient urban space is the second outcome of the modelling. It will be implemented with a dynamic feature allowing the municipality to create maps for flood risk for different development scenarios and climate projections.
Site description Haapsalu is a town on West Estonia’s Baltic coast, located in an oasis typical of the north-west coast of Estonia. The town’s coastline length is 18 km and the area 10.6 km². A total of 67% of the town area is covered with greenery (parks, recreational areas etc.). Due to the coastline length and ground elevation, the city is open to seawater flooding. Old drainage systems, bottlenecks in pipelines and incomplete information on the town’s drainage system are contributing to rainwater flooding. The pilot area is divided into two, corresponding to actual stormwater system catchment areas.
NOAH actions The stormwater systems are mapped, and water samples are taken from stormwater outflows. The existing depreciated dam of the wetland, which is the buffer for rainwater outflow before the sea, is replaced with a new automatic weirwall (Smart Weirwall System). The system consists of a moveable gate and two sensors, installed into a new manhole. Implementing Real-Time Control (RTC) can (1) prevent seawater backflow in case the sea level rises higher than level in the wetland (= flood protection), (2) ensure sufficient retention time of the urban stormwater in the wetland before letting the water to the sea (= water treatment).
Site description Jurmala is situated on the southernmost shore of the Gulf of Riga, by the drainage basin of the Lielupe river. The pilot area consists mainly of forested areas and low-rise residential buildings, landscape can be characterized as rather flat. Roofs constitute around 9.5% and paved roads up to 14% of the total catchment area. The rainfall collection system is a separate sewer system with several sanitary sewer connections from households. Run-off is conveyed by gravity pipelines and roadside ditches. System discharges into the Lielupe river. For NOAH, three sections of the area have been chosen as pilot sites – A, B and C (see the photos). The sections are actual storm water catchments, chosen to study the city area evenly.
NOAH actions Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is created for the area. Through modelling, Real-Time Control (RTC) is implemented by transforming a node (joining point of pipeline and ditch) into a pumping station to see the changes in the system discharge during dry weather and during rainfall. The main investment in Jurmala is an automatic hydrological station (AHS). The purpose of AHS is to develop a better process control and management system in regard to the city’s storm water and waste water system as well as their potential interaction, especially during rain events. This includes not only the modelling but also precipitation, storm water level and waste water flow measurements as well as storm water sampling.
Site description Ogre is located alongside the Ogre river approximately 50 km from the Baltic Sea coastline. The pilot area of Ogre has been selected due to its significant flood problem and estimated future challenges caused by climate change. The focus is on the Loka street neighborhood (between AHS1 and AHS2 – see the photos), which has developed from a low swampy meadow. The surface water run-off has been organized with a network of open ditches along the streets, draining into the Ogre river. Due to intensive detached housing construction, part of the ditches have been arbitrarily filled or the culvert elevation marks have been misaligned. This has led to a loss of functionality of the existing drainage network. To control surface run-off, the municipality must provide rainwater drainage from the street and adjacent areas by creating a single network. Therefore, the municipality has started the gradual construction of a rain drainage piping system, which NOAH installations support.
NOAH actions Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is created for the area. Measurements of the Ogre riverbed upwards from Daugava river water reservoir will be performed (including measurement data processing and cartographic material preparation). Sensory locations as well as the technical design of the Automated Hydrological Stations (AHS) are identified and evaluated. Three automated hydrological stations with a non-return tidal gate and a pump are constructed and installed.
Site description Liepaja is located in western Latvia, between the Baltic Sea and the lake of Liepaja. For NOAH, Tebras street catchment basin with a separate storm sewer is chosen for detailed inventory. The area of the catchment basin is approximately 19 ha. Low-rise residential buildings mostly occupy the area, impervious surfaces consist of roofs (42%) and paved roads are (8% of total area). The stormwater sewer outlet of the catchment discharges water into the Lake of Liepaja. There is a problem related to backflow from the lake with water standing still all the way from the outfall to the pump.
NOAH actions Hydraulic model of the Tebras street catchment basin is developed to (a) clarify how the sewer functions under different circumstances, (b) examine whether it is possible to add new connections to this catchment basin in the future, (c) understand the quality of water drained from the catchment basin, (d) examine the possibility of using project partner experience from Haapsalu in application of a smart weir wall system or usage of a tidal check valve, which would allow stormwater flow only in one direction. Additional pilot activities are performed in the northern part of Liepaja nearby Tosmare lake. This part of the city is enclosed by Cietokšņa channel. There is a plan to install two water level sensors in Cietokšņa channel as the territories around the channel are potential flood areas and sensors are needed to indicate water level rise in the channel. The main problem is that if the Cietokšņa canal outlet into the Baltic Sea is clogged, the adjacent areas are flooded.
Site description Slupsk is situated in northern Poland, about 20 km from the Baltic Sea coast, on the Slupia river. The pilot area covers the entire city (22 km2). The Slupsk sewer system includes 2% of combined sewer pipes which drain 7% of the analyzed area. Even though the share of combined sewer system is small, approximately 30% of the total flow originates from the stormwater entering the sewer system via unsealed manholes and pipes. This poses a risk to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and to the Slupia River, which is the recipient of overflows. The modelled network has one main outflow from which the wastewater and storm water is pumped to the WWTP. The excess which cannot be pumped is stored in the retention tank upstream the pump or discharged to the Slupia River.
NOAH actions Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is created for the area. To collect data, precipitation meters (rain gauges) with an automatic data archiving system and remote transmission are installed in six locations in the city. In addition, devices for measuring the level of filling of the main sewage channels are installed in 12 locations. In order to improve on the flooding issues in the city, there is a need for retaining and delaying water upstream of the affected areas. A Real-Time Control (RTC) scheme with a detention volume has the potential to do this by controlling the outflow from the basin based on downstream water level sensors in the vulnerable areas.
Click the locations on the map to see photos of the sites.
Project outputs
Media releases
Outputs to be published.
OUTPUT 2.1
Report on pilot areas and acquired data – 10/2019
ACTIVITY 2.2
Report on climate scenarios selection – 10/2019
OUTPUT 2.3
Report on modelling results – 4/2020
OUTPUT 3.1
Taking control of the Urban Drainage System – 10/2019
OUTPUT 3.3
Implementing RTC in urban areas in the Baltic Sea region – 6/2020
NOAH Tool: User manual and documentation – 6/2020
Outputs to be published.
OUTPUT 5.1
Communication Strategy – 6/2019
PL: Kierunek WodKan periodical 1/2020, 27 February 2020:
NOAH na pomoc morzu
EE: Äripäev (Business) newspaper, 5 March 2020:
Õppimine kiirelt arenevas ehitusvaldkonnas pakub põnevaid väljakutseid
EE: Inseneeria (Engineering) magazine, 28 May 2020:
Mida teha, kui tänavad muutuvad mägijõgedeks? Probleemile otsib lahendust NOAH
(available for subscribers)
FI: Ympäristö ja Terveys (Environment and Health) magazine 4/2020, 28 May 2020:
Tulvanhallintayhteistyöllä uusia keinoja Itämeren saastekuorman vähentämiseksi
(Article not available online)
ENG: Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology, Vol. 69, Issue 3, May 2020:
Kändler, N.; Annus, I.; Vassiljev, A.; Puust, R. Real time controlled sustainable urban drainage systems in dense urban areas.
PL: Water Notebook magazine, Polish Waterworks Chamber of Commerce (IGWP), July 2020:
Projekt NOAH
ENG: Project article by Polish NOAH partners, 8 October 2020:
Aims and actions of the NOAH project – pilot case Słupsk (PDF)
EE: Website of Estonian Waterworks Association / Eesti Vee-ettevõtete Liit, 12 November 2020:
Uued lahendused üleujutuste ohjamiseks, et vältida reovee sattumist Läänemerre
PL: Przeglad Komunalny (Communal Review) magazine, 10/2020:
Zatrzymać wodę w mieście
(Article not available online)
PL / ENG: Video by Slupsk Water Supply depicting the effects of climate change and giving an insight into the aims and actions of NOAH, July 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXs30QKSeJg
SE: Helahälsingland, 10 May 2019
Projekt för att stoppa översvämningar flyter på – viktigt besök från Tallinn: “En jättegivande dag”
(available for subscribers)
FI: Ympäristö ja Terveys (Environment and Health) magazine 3/2019, April 2019
Tulvahallintayhteistyöllä vähennetään Itämeren saastekuormaa
(article not available online)
ENG: Press release, 18 February 2019
Flood control in Baltic Sea cities provides tools for cleaner Baltic Sea
News & events
NEWS: NOAH newsletter July-December 2020
Project work has continued as normally as possible during the exceptional year 2020. Regarding the latter half of the year, the key activities of the project are listed in the NOAH newsletter July-December 2020.
NEWS: NOAH newsletter January-June 2020
Despite the beginning of the year 2020 being rather exceptional due to the Corona virus situation, the NOAH project has mostly proceeded as planned. The updates and progress are collected into NOAH newsletter January-June 2020.
NEWS: NOAH Stakeholder Representative Panel
The NOAH project establishes a Stakeholder Representative Panel in January 2020 to efficiently reach the stakeholders outside the project partnership and to ensure the transnational value of the project to be verified and documented in project communication.
The panel members – from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania – are all experts of water management and sustainability development in the Baltic Sea region. Project outputs, and finally the NOAH concept, will be introduced to the Stakeholder Representative Panel for discussion and joint development. The panel will have online meetings regularly in 2020-2021.
EVENT: Regional workshop in Finland
NOAH regional workshop in Finnish at the Meremme tähden / For the Sake of our Sea event in Rauma, Finland, on the 7th of May 2020 is cancelled due to COVID-19.
New date for the workshop will be announced later.
Further information (in Finnish) of the Meremme tähden event: sub.samk.fi/events/meremmetahden
NOAH on social media
4 weeks ago
The year 2020 has truly been exceptional, and international projects have faced unforeseen challenges, as well. Luckily, project activities have still progressed mostly as planned. To sum up the year for NOAH, a newsletter of the main activities in July-December 2020 has been published on the project website: sub.samk.fi/projects/noah/#news
With this wrap-up, the NOAH project team wishes everyone peaceful holidays and a good start for the year 2021. ✨ ... See MoreSee Less
NOAH project | Smart Urban Business |
sub.samk.fi
Protecting Baltic Sea from untreated wastewater spillages during flood events in urban areas.1 month ago
Smart Weirwall is coming soon! Construction works to install the regulation weir to the outlet of Systa pond in Rakvere have been started on Tuesday. ... See MoreSee Less
1 month ago
The second round of stormwater measurements started today in Haapsalu. Installing raingauge on the roof of Haapsalu City Governement building with Remi Treier and Peep Aedviir. Contractor TeraMet OÜ is installing automatic sampler and flow sensor at the outlet of the pipeline system. ... See MoreSee Less
2 months ago
Today’s workshop in Rakvere to adjust the automatically determined stormwater catchments. Taking the leap to implement the first prototype of EWL. Many thanks to City of Rakvere and Rakvere Water Utility for hosting the meeting! ... See MoreSee Less
2 months ago
The NOAH Stakeholder Representative Panel gathered for an online meeting on the 1st of December to see, hear and discuss the latest progress of the project. The panel members – from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Lithuania – provide their support in reaching out to the stakeholders outside the project partnership. Very important in ensuring the transnational value of the project! #bsrnoah #InterregBSR #stakeholderrepresentatives #transnational #cooperation ... See MoreSee Less
The Satakunta region in Finland, faces challenges with #climatechange and heavy rains again this season. In Pori, one of the #BSRNOAH pilot areas, #stormwater management plays a key role in flood protection. Article in Finnish (for subscribers). https://www.satakunnankansa.fi/uutiset/art-2000007636205.html
NOAH partners from the city of Pori and Satakunta University of Applied Sciences inspecting stormwater solutions in Pori along Kokemäenjoki river, as well as Suntinoja ditch, one of the NOAH pilot areas. #bsrnoah #interregbsr #stormwatermanagement @SatakunnanAMK @Porikaupunki
4More about NOAH
Floods causing inflows of pollutants into the Baltic Sea
Effective control of the stormwaters in urban areas is one of the biggest environmental challenges in the Baltic Sea region as climate change brings along intense rainfalls and storms. Urban drainage systems are not capable to handle the floods, which rises the risk of flushing untreated wastewater from urban drainage systems into the nature. This is harmful to people and environment due to the excessive amount of nutrients, hazardous substances and pathogenic microbes in wastewater.
Holistic planning and smart drainage systems
Urban areas can be prepared for floods by improved planning and self-adaptive drainage operations. NOAH project brings together nine towns and water utilities, seven academic and research institutions and two umbrella organisations from six countries around the Baltic Sea to join their forces.
NOAH’s approach is to create a concept for holistic planning and implement smart drainage systems in real urban environments. Holistic solutions combine stormwater management with spatial planning. This is followed by development of smart drainage systems to make the existing facilities resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Healthier and cleaner Baltic Sea
The NOAH concept will be easily scalable to any urban area around the Baltic Sea. Implementation of the concept could cut up to half of the inflow of pollutants into the Baltic Sea. The activities will be anchored into daily practices of towns and water utilities, leading to healthier and cleaner Baltic Sea!
Contacts
Ivar Annus
ivar.annus(at)taltech.ee
+372 620 2557
Minna Keinänen-Toivola
minna.keinanen-toivola(at)samk.fi
+358 44 710 3063