Bydgoszcz is a partner in the international project “CWC City Water Circulation : Urban models of cooperation in the implementation of rational water use in Central European Functional Urban Areas in accordance with the idea of a circular economy”. In the project, the city cooperates with 11 partners from Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Croatia and Germany. Partners (cities, water companies, NGOs) from six countries joined forces to create a knowledge base on the water cycle in the city and, together with local stakeholders, develop a set of innovative water management methods and tools useful throughout Central Europe. In addition, partners will demonstrate pilot solutions, develop local strategies, action plans and policy recommendations for decision makers. Retencjapl undertook to write a local strategy in close cooperation with the City Hall and stakeholders responsible for shaping policy, maintaining infrastructure and water and wastewater treatment.
Challenge 
Bydgoszcz is a partner in the international project “CWC City Water Circulation : Urban models of cooperation in the implementation of rational water use in Central European Functional Urban Areas in accordance with the idea of a circular economy “. As part of the tasks carried out in the project, the city was to develop strategies and an action plan for water management in the city in accordance with the idea of circular water management.
Solution
Our team undertook to develop such a strategy, working closely with the City Hall and stakeholders responsible for policy making, infrastructure maintenance and water and wastewater treatment. Its creation was participatory. In the works, it was important that the goals and activities could be implemented without significant investment outlays and that it complemented the existing documents, in the areas of:
– rainwater,
– use of gray water,
– and treated sewage
Benefits
The CWC project aims to promote a water-saving culture, ways to use rainwater in cities, recover and use gray water as well as treated wastewater and the use of nature-based solutions. It is wisely inscribed in the activities of the city. Project management is carried out through coordination by an appointed team that uses current sources of funding, checks legal regulations and introduces educational activities. The strategy ordered the goals and activities, providing a strong basis for the cooperation of stakeholders, primarily in further implementation of the idea of Bydgoszcz as a “city of sponge”. Decision makers, infrastructure managers and scientists were jointly involved in its implementation
