Erzsébetváros continues on the path of sustainability – a 60 cubic meter rainwater tank has been installed underground.

At the end of January, a nearly 60-cubic-metre tank was installed under the courtyard of the Klauzál Square Market Hall to collect rainwater from the roof of the hall. After purification and filtration, the water collected will be suitable for watering plants and cleaning the streets. It will be able to store approximately 2 weeks’ worth of water for watering.

The investment is as much about sustainability as it is about improving the district’s resilience to extreme weather events. Let’s see how this project is all about sustainability: water scarcity and summer droughts will unfortunately become more frequent in the future, and watering with drinking water will become increasingly unsustainable. Such rainwater harvesting tanks allow watering and cleaning with rainwater instead of drinking water, which not only saves water but also reduces the energy needed to provide drinking water. Last but not least, it’s good for your plants to be watered with rainwater, because soft rainwater is better for them than tap water.

At the other hand, we have all experienced thedisruptionand accidents that can occur when our streets are flooded by sudden downpours of torrential rain. The problem is that the drainage system running under the roads cannot carry such large amounts of rainwater, because it is simply not designed for that capacity. These large rainwater harvesting tanks can hold a substantial amount of rainwater, preventing streets from being flooded by rain: an investment that increases the effectiveness of flood defences.

For these reasons, the Municipality of Erzsébetváros decided to join the EU-supported investment in the framework of the Urban Rain project. And they are going further, with rainwater harvesting tanks to be installed at the Csicsergő and Magonc Nursery Schools.

A Klauzál-téri esővízgűjtő ciszterna elhelyezése (forrás: Huzián Zsófia)

The installation at Klauzál Square goes beyond the use of a water tank.

An all-inclusive, 21. A 21st century recreation park, a significantly larger green area than the current one, a new, environmentally friendly and safe playground, a multifunctional sports field, a fitness park and a renewed dog run will await the residents of Erzsébetváros.

Article and pictures from: Mayor Péter Niedermüller’s Facebook page