Smart and Robust Stormwater Management in a Subarctic Climate (2026–2029)

The climate is changing, and this has a major impact on how rain and stormwater need to be managed in our cities. Subarctic cities, such as those in northern Sweden, face unique challenges because climate change not only brings more intense precipitation but also altered patterns of snow, rain, snowmelt, and rain-on-snow. The project aims to develop and disseminate location-specific knowledge on designing solutions that take climate adaptation and preparedness into account.

The project is led by the municipality Umeå, which—in collaboration with Umeå Vatten och Avfall AB and Vatten och Avfallskompetens i Norr AB (VAKIN)—will implement several measures to address the effects of climate change on Umeå’s stormwater system. Luleå University of Technology is participating as a research partner and will investigate how various solutions function in both current and future climates. Since this often requires model calculations, the project will also examine the best methods for conducting these calculations and the uncertainties associated with model results.

A particular focus of the project is on small watercourses that flow through cities, which are affected both by changes in their natural environment and by changes within the cities themselves—including their stormwater systems—as well as any climate adaptation measures that are implemented.

The project is funded by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) and the European Union and runs from January 1, 2026, to April 30, 2029.