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Munich Laim: Environmental protection with a water bank – green spaces for the future!
Laim District Committee is planning innovative water banks to improve the urban climate and preserve urban green spaces.
Munich Laim: Environmental protection with a water bank – green spaces for the future!
An interesting innovation for the cityscape could soon appear in the Munich district of Laim: The planned water bank, which was brought to life by the initiator Nicola Fritz (Greens), chairwoman of the Environment, Climate and Tree Protection subcommittee, promises not only an innovative seating option, but also an active contribution to improving the city's climate. [tz.de]. should be taken into account.
The water bank is a sustainable invention that collects rainwater and uses it to automatically irrigate plants and green spaces. “The aim is to find solutions to preserve urban green spaces in times of increasing heat and drought,” Fritz continued. This innovative idea could be an answer to the challenges facing cities like Munich, which suffer from water management problems due to 47 percent impervious surfaces, as stated in an article on m-i-n.net.
A view of the sponge city
Another aspect underlying the water bank is the so-called “sponge city” principle. This concept, developed in China in 2014, aims to better manage rainwater. By retaining rainwater and allowing it to seep away, flooding can be prevented and strain on sewage systems can be reduced. This principle not only has technical advantages, but also strengthens biodiversity and makes cities more resilient to the climate crisis, reveals the Federal Environment Agency on umweltbundesamt.de.
The water bench is a modular seating option that is combined with an integrated planting area. A transparent tank can collect rainwater from an area of 10 square meters and provide about 4000 liters per year. This collected water plays a crucial role in irrigating plants, demonstrating the natural water cycle.
Hurdles on the way to implementation
While the idea sounds promising, there have already been challenges in implementing it. Christiane Weiss, who wanted to bring the project to Munich, encountered various hurdles in 2023, including concerns about the statics. These concerns led to the proposal in Westend being rejected due to liability issues. The water bank is currently in Leipzig, where it was recently installed at a street festival and will later be handed over to a primary school.
The water bank aims to educate and encourage people to think about urban infrastructure and its sustainable design. The water bank could currently also be considered as an idea for Munich’s 2025 budget. Despite the challenges that have accompanied the project so far, this context shows how important it is to actively rethink how water is used in urban development.
The water bank could therefore be a further step towards a more resilient city that actively addresses the challenges of climate change. It remains to be seen whether the opportunities for realization in Laim can be realized and whether the water bank can develop its potential as an environmentally friendly seat and sustainable street furniture.