Towards Integratad Stormwater-Meltwater Management In the Coastal Part of Norway

New directions in urban runoff and water environmental management in the coastal part of Norway are being introduced. The goal is to manage the total urban runoff (wastewater and stormwater) so that environmental damage is avoided and the goals for the receiving water are achieved at reasonable costs. It is mostly based on the results from the research programme carried out in the Birkeland basin and the subcatchment Sandsli, in Bergen, since 1981, where use of the blue-green concept and the Sandsli-system has been successful. The green trend in urban stormwater management utilizes the capabilities of nature to store huge stormwater-meltwater volumes and to reduce the pollution content in the water. In the planning process, blue areas like lakes, rivers and brooks are to be kept in their natural condition.