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Drainage management in the city of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Last update
2025
Summary
Urban constructions carried out by JVProjektvh which include the removal or sinking of existing curbs, lowering or adjustment of the surface, transfer of storm water from the area of street inlets to decentralized devices, taking apart gutters and street inlets within green areas.
It is still included in urbanism today, and mimicked in other cities.
Position
Latitude
50.2105
Longitude
15.82305
Project
NWRM
National Id
Czeck_01
Installation date
2011-03
Implementation Status
Contact
Jovanka Ignjatovic
RBD code
CZ_5000
Transboundary
0

Location of the project
Hradec Králové, city of 90 000 inhabitants at the confluence of the Elbe and the Orlice.
NUTS Code
CZ05 - Severovýchod
Involved Partners
Authority type Authority name Role Comments
Local water authority
Municipality of Hradec Kralove
Initiation of the measure
DHI
Monitoring
JVProjectVH
Implementation

Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Temperature
7,40000009536743
Precipitation
474
Annual rainfall range
300 - 600 mm
Runoff
380
Runoff coefficient
0,8
Elevation range
233

Project scale
Meso
Project scale specification
This project takes into consideration a city as a whole.
Performance timescale
1 - 4 years
Project area
24300
Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha)
24300
Size
332
Size unit
km
Lifespan
50
The design of such project needs informations on the local conditions : underground status, infiltratbility of the soil, meteorology.
Return period for the design of retention volume: 5 years
Design capacity description
96000 inhabitants city; the maximum specific regulated discharge from the ground plot: 3 l/(s.ha)
The past few decades, Hradec Kralove has suffered from massive urbanization resulting in overloading of the system of natural and artificial water bodies as well as of the sewer system.
Hradec Kralove was planned as a green city before the Second World War by architect Josef Gocar. Today, it is still an excellent example of clever urban planning. Stormwater drainage was solved as a first priority before starting planning the urbanization itself. Gocar designed a system combining natural water bodies and open vegetated channels. Moreover, infiltration systems were created in some areas.

Costs total information
There are no information at this stage
Financing authorities
Authority name
Hradec Králové municipality
Type of funding
Local funds
Financing share
100 %

Policy context
Mising sustainable urban drainage systems (exceptions: rare individual projects and EU financed projects)
Land ownership
Only public-owned land or buildings
Community involvment
Yes
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Name Key issues Comments
Screening phase
Surveys
Individual issues
People were reached to inquire about any water problems they might know about.
Policy target
Target purpose
Runoff control
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Contractual arrangements
0
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Name Comments
Part of wider plan
1
Wider plan type
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Local
Urban
City Development Plan
These areas were determined in the catchment and incorporated into the new City Development Plan processing

Current status of stormwater management. No deep impact monitoring is carried out.
Unknown
The DAS HK incorporated extensive monitoring and surveys (rainfall, water levels, discharges, water quality parameters, ecological status of streams, catchment hydrogeology and infiltration potential etc.)
Hydrodynamic modeling of the sewer system, water bodies, artificial open channels, underground waters and elements of stormwater management was performed (MIKE Urban, MIKE11) and hydraulic capacity of the individual parts of the system as well as flooding frequency was assessed based on a 10-years rainfall data series. CSOs impacts were assessed with REBEKAII.
Paralelly, a groundwater flow model was created by Jacobs Consultancy.
Reduction of the impervious area of the existing development by 15%; Long-term conception of the city stormwater drainage respecting sustainability principles.
Link rules and criteria of sustainable stormwater management within the region with the new City Development Plan.
The attitude towards stormwater management has started to change towards sustainability
Information on increased water storage
Not increased the volume stored, technical measures in the planned development aim at approaching pre-urbanization runoff conditions (similar hydrograph volume and shape).
Information on runoff reduction
Improved runoff control by measures in the catchment, sewer system and open channels
Water quality overall improvements
Not relevant for this application
Information on Water quality overall improvements
Sustainable sewage system allows a better protection of water bodies through a reduction of unwanted discharges.
Soil quality overall soil improvements
Not relevant for this application
Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements
N/A info
N/A info
Ecosystem impact climate regulation
Not relevant for the specific application
Information on Ecosystem provisioning services
N/A info

Key lessons
Study showd that:
- storm water management must be integrated into urban planning to guarantee sustainable development of the city;
- transparent step-by-step guidelines specifying activities and responsibilities at each level of urban planning from the stormwater management point of view must be prepared;
- this tipe of projects went beyond the current Czech legislation and can serve as a good example for similar studies.
Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments Order
Existing staff and consultant knowledge
main factor
<p>Decision support for city authorities and the building politics in terms of sustainable stormwater management were provided</p>
1
Available support tools
secondary factor
<p>For the sewer network evaluation, a model from the Drainage Masterplan from 2005 was available</p>
2
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments Order
Legal obligations / restrictions
secondary barrier
Due to water management restrictions, urbanization is limited to some areas.
This leads to some reluctance byt a part of the local community.
1
Attitude of decision makers
main barrier
A political change in the city lead to less resources to maintain this project. Urban priorities shifted.
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments Order
Past flooding events
main driver
Events exceeding the limit of the open channel
1
Organisation committed to it
main driver
The willingness to create a demonstrator city in defining rules for greener infrastructure.
Transferability
The same approach is applicable to any other city, as long as the urban planners are comitted to it.
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