Adapting urban water systems to climate change: best practices and insights from Europe

The approach to urban water management across European countries is being influenced by growing knowledge about the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent flooding, and prolonged drought periods place significant pressure on urban water systems and exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. The Interreg MAURICE project aims to introduce water management solutions for Central European cities in response to these climate-induced challenges. In this context, a literature review was conducted to analyse the best practices for climate change adaptation in urban water management across Europe. The main interest was to find integrated inter-administrative solutions involving key urban actors. Particular attention was given to comprehensive adaptation frameworks, leading to further analysis of the applicability of the local adaptation support tools promoted by the European Environment Agency. The review was drawn on a selection of case studies from recent literature and national experiences from the MAURICE partner countries, focused on groundwater management, stormwater management, and sustainable urban water management. The Key Type Measures (KTMs) classification was used to group the adaptation actions based on their characteristics.

Clear evidence was found of the direction that climate adaptation in urban water management is taking across Europe. Adaptation solutions are often based on governance and institutional measures, as well as nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches combined with physical (grey) measures. In contrast, technological tools, economic and financial instruments, and initiatives for knowledge and behavioural change are less frequently applied. Good practices that reportedly enable successful adaptation are often related to flexible, locally tailored measures designed with a systemic and long-term approach that ensures effective governance structures and community engagement. Frequent gaps in adaptation planning reveal shortcomings in testing the adequacy of adaptation options, addressing economic and legal aspects of adaptation, setting up monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and dealing with uncertainties. This report provides actionable insights to drive effective adaptation of urban water systems, build climate-resilient communities, and systematically integrate scientific knowledge into policy action.