Development of sustainable urban drainage systems in Eastern Europe: an analytical overview of the constraints and enabling conditions

Abstract

We focused on the barriers to the implementation of enabling environments for sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Based on interviews and desktop research, we analyzed overall framework conditions in these countries as well as implementation practices in three cities. Our findings demonstrate that the main problem was the deficit of strategic foresight for urban development. SUDS are mostly promoted by NGOs and fueled by international donors, and this represents a major barrier to their implementation, as NGOs and 'traditional' epistemic communities are often not connected. Successful examples of SUDS are missing, often due to regulatory environments forcing SUDS development teams to take suboptimal decisions. In order to be taken seriously by key stakeholders SUDS need to appear in national policy documents. Furthermore, the overall successful implementation of SUDS needs robust governance frameworks while many structural issues are direct results of governance deficits.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (2014-2023) by Using Bibliometric Analysis Method

“…Thus, a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) is designed to create a drainage system model that absorbs runoff water into the soil, which is often referred to as infiltration. This infiltration system continues the runoff water into the drainage channel and is processed with filter-to-filter pollutants or wastewater involved in runoff water (Anton Shkarubaa et al, 2021). The filtration system can use geotextiles or other routes to remove pollutants or garbage (Arahuetes & Cantos, 2019).…”

Accessing Synergies and Opportunities between Nature-Based Solutions and Urban Drainage Systems

“…The results from recent research (e.g., [63,[66][67][68][69][70]) have been providing contributions to an integrated framework that can evaluate different co-benefits of NBS to the urban environment. Most of these frameworks are mostly focused on assessing NBS' effectiveness for climate resilience and specific urban challenges, such as green space management or air quality, while others have been proposed specifically to assess their resilience in cities.…”

Conflicting Perspectives on Urban Landscape Quality in Six Urban Regions in Europe and Their Implications for Urban Transitions

“…between vested interests that resist choices for green and blue infrastructures for financial reasons. Complexities may increase, when citizens are divided among themselves with respect to the greening of urban landscapes (Shkaruba et al, 2021). Not all people appreciate more green, as their preferences have been molded and modified by sealed grey urban landscapes.…”