Sustainable Rainwater Management in Existing Settlements

Abstract

While a policy of local and more decentralized rainwater management is increasingly pursued in newly developed settlement areas, the question arises as to which direction property-related rainwater management is being steered in existing settlements, whose restructuring places higher demands on drainage. This paper examines in theory and practice the strategic design of important municipal institutions for regulating rainwater management (compulsory connection and use as well as fee models). Against the background of a multi-dimensional target system the following questions are answered: “Which institutional structure could theoretically be consolidated into a consistent strategy for a more centralized or decentralized approach to rainwater management?” and “What is current local government practice?” On the basis of an empirical study it is shown that local governments pursue very different approaches, yet decentralization approaches are also quite common in existing settlements. Thus, the paper analyzes the interaction between institutional and technological options for action based on the example of the current challenges facing sustainable rainwater management.