Construction and Rehabilitation of Rainwater Management Installations in Bratislava

Bratislava is situated on the Danube River, making it vulnerable to significant flooding risks. Historically, the city has experienced several severe floods (in June 2013 when the highest flow rate was recorded in the city, and in September 2024) which have highlighted several challenges for Bratislava, such as:

-       urban development against. flood risk: the city's expansion often takes place on the floodplains, increasing vulnerability to flood damage

-       aging infrastructure: existing drainage and flood protection systems struggle to cope with the inereasing frequency and intensity of flood events

-       climate change: changes in rainfall patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events further increase flood risks

Addressing these challenges requires an adaptive, comprehensive approach that combines infrastructure improvements, sustainable urban planning, and community engagement to enhance the city's resilience to future flood events.

To address these challenges, the authorities of the city and the broader Bratislava region undertook certain concrete measures. In 2016 the city of Bratislava launched and self-funded a small-scale subsidy scheme aimed at promoting sustainable rainwater management through the installation of NbS to improve water retention and enhance the resilience of the city's infrastructure.

Between 2016 and 2023, this grant scheme provided financial support to public and private building owners to implement simple measures such as rainwater gardens, green roofs, and water tanks. It covered up to 50% of the costs, with a maximum contribution of EUR 1,000 per applicant. This was a follow-up to two rain- and stormwater-oriented projects.

The project "Bratislava is preparing for climate change", aimed at increasing the city's resilience, in particular against intense rainfall and heat, was funded by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism, the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, and the national budget, with a total of EUR 3,337,640.

The project "Climate-Resilient Bratislava - Pilot Projects on Decarbonisation, Energy Efficiency of Buildings and Sustainable Rainwater Management in the UrbanEnvironment", co-financed by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 (EUR 1,170,600) and the national budget (EUR 206,546), enabled Bratislava officials to learn more about best practices on storm-and rainwater management from the Norwegian partners.

In 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provided a loan of EUR 50 million to Bratislava Water Company to expand its water infrastructure to improve the drainage system against future hazards.