The first Urban Waterbuffer was opened at the Spartaplein in Rotterdam. This was accompanied by a neighbourhood festivity, which also focused on the importance of the changing urban climate.

As part of the H2020-project NAIAD, which assesses the insurance value of ecosystems for water related risk mitigation, we hosted an interactive and inspiring Stakeholder Workshop to assess the effectiveness of the Urban Water Buffer project in Spangen, Rotterdam. 

The space needed for water retention and infiltration in urban areas is typically limited. This results in conflicts with other uses of space, and in solutions that are expensive. With the Urban Waterbuffer (UWB) rainwater in urban areas can be purified and retained for a longer time, without obstructing other spatial functions.