MUSTBE: Multidimensional Storm Water Treatment in Urban Areas for Cleaner Baltic Sea

Status: Ongoing projects

The stormwater treatment has been a tangible challenge along the Baltic Sea region. To contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Baltic Sea, the Interreg MUSTBE project aims at improving the condition of the Baltic Sea by treating storm water that reaches the sea by developing novel multi-benefit stormwater management systems. Within the project, the eight project partners aim to combine nature-based storm water solutions with digital solutions to maximize storm water treatment efficacy and municipalities capacity to monitor the actual quality of the storm water. Seven pilot sites will be set up in four countries (Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden). Cross-border co-operation will not only enable the development of the necessary technological innovation that is in focus within visioned storm water solutions but also ensure replication of the technological innovation on international level.

Interreg MUSTBE will result in new innovative multi-benefit storm water systems that will combine storm water treatment, storm water exploitation, and online monitoring of water quality. The developed multi-benefit smart nature-based stormwater solutions are expected to deliver pollutant removal efficiencies of at least 60% for suspended solids, 30% for total nitrogen, 60% for pathogens, 50% for oil products, and 40% for metals.

Planned activities in Rīga:

⚈ Development of a geographic information system database for urban pilot territories to combine available data for multi-factor analysis;
⚈ Study of pilot territories (including geodetic works, rainwater analyses);
⚈ Multidimensional analysis and development of technical solutions for rainwater treatment;
⚈ Preparation of maintenance guidelines for developed solutions;
⚈ Construction/installation of solutions in pilot territories selected by partner cities;
⚈ Monitoring of pilot territories, incl. development of the monitoring program;
⚈ Communication and experience exchange activities.

Duration, funding, partners:

Funding:  Interreg Central Baltic
Budget: Total € 3 980 476, EU contribution € 3 184 380, Riga Municipality budget € 638 584, EU contribution € 510 867
Duration: 01.05.2023. – 30.04.2026.
Partners: Lead partner: Viimsi municipality (EE), City of Tallinn (EE), Söderhamn municipality (SE), City of Pori (FI), Rīga City Council (LV), Tallin University of Technology (EE), Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (FI), Riga Technical University (LV).