The high water wall – LeMur – was built in 2014 and protects against high water up to 210 cm above daily water level. Photo: Michael Holm Christensen.

Large volumes of water require new solutions

Climate change is bringing ever greater challenges, not least in the form of large and intense amounts of precipitation and the risk of storm surges. The innovation center Klimatorium in Lemvig has become the center for developing and testing new sustainable methods to handle the large amounts of water and thus avoid flooding.

By Kurt Nielsen, Sebastian Mernild & Lars Nørgaard Holmegaard

The world’s largest Living Lab in Lemvig

With rising water levels, intensified precipitation and changing weather patterns, the need for developing effective and sustainable climate adaptation solutions has become more urgent than ever. Klimatorium plays a central role in this development and has established itself as a beacon for sustainable solutions that can meet the increasing demands for climate adaptation. To support technological development in the water and climate field, it is crucial to be able to test and demonstrate solutions in realistic environments.

In the Lemvig area, Klimatorium has created one of the world’s largest Living Labs for climate adaptation, a testbed where researchers can test and fine-tune new technologies and methods. This unique test environment provides the opportunity to develop solutions that are not only theoretically effective, but also work in the real world. It’s about knowledge for change.

From problem water to resource

In Klimatorium, innovative solutions for efficient water management are being experimented with, including various solutions for handling rainwater locally – so-called LAR solutions (Local Rainwater Drainage). In future, water must be stored to a greater extent in the landscape, so that we can take the peak of the largest runoff. We can also establish more watercourses that can divert water during extreme rainfall, and we establish sand filters and plant lagoons that can clean the water before it is led to watercourses. This differs significantly from traditional sewer systems, which can quickly become overloaded during heavy rain.

However, Klimatorium does not only take rainwater into account. We are also working to tackle one of the biggest challenges that many cities and rural areas face: groundwater, which can cause flooding in basements and fields. Instead of considering this as “problem water”, Klimatorium is investigating how it can be used as a resource for industrial purposes, for example in Power-to-X plants, which play a central role in the green transition.

A data-driven approach is essential for optimizing water management. At Klimatorium, we therefore collect real-time data about the water cycle using advanced technology such as satellite data and sensors. Denmark’s densest network of data loggers (80 pieces), which continuously record groundwater levels, is set up in the Living Lab together with 80 rain gauges. Data from this makes it possible to predict problems such as floods and sudden events such as burst water pipes. There is close cooperation with private landowners on this, where half of the wells with data loggers are placed in private areas by agreement, so that the best data is collected.

Data is also the basis for developing realistic models for handling rainwater and wastewater. The overview is ensured via a GIS platform (GIS = Geographic Information System), where data on pipeline networks and other relevant supply information is published. The platform is continuously updated with the latest satellite data to ensure precise x, y, z coordinates that reflect actual changes in the terrain. The unique feature is the integration of the z dimension (height above Danish Normal Zero), which makes the pipeline database three-dimensional. Work is currently underway to collect a comprehensive dataset that precisely maps the three-dimensional location of the supply network (x, y, z) so that connections are established between the continuously updated height data for the surface and the depth of the pipes below the surface. The continuous updating of height data makes it possible to build Digital Twins (computer models) that can be used to optimize service, maintenance and renovation projects. This often avoids significant, unexpected costs for the utility companies, which ultimately affect consumers. This data-driven approach will create a solid foundation for optimizing water management, which is crucial for the future management of utilities.

Regulatory sandboxes

To promote innovation among companies, Klimatorium is working in the Living Lab to establish “regulatory sandboxes” that provide the opportunity to test locally groundbreaking solutions that do not comply with current rules and legislation. For example, in some places a temporary discharge permit is needed to test the effect of new purification methods such as plant lagoons or purification of wastewater with biochar.

One of the biggest obstacles to the implementation of new technologies is often existing rules and regulations that were adopted before climate adaptation and green transition became a priority. Therefore, there is a great need for development in this area.

The development of climate change and water technologies requires close collaboration across sectors. Therefore, Klimatorium invites companies, researchers and public actors to actively participate in the work of developing solutions that not only create value for society, but also promote growth and effectively address the climate challenges we face.

Sustainability as a driving force for effective climate adaptation

Sustainability is a central driving force in climate adaptation work. At Klimatorium, we combine advanced technology with sustainable materials to develop solutions that both address climate challenges and reduce the carbon footprint. A concrete example is the collaboration with Plastix and other plastic companies to develop rainwater and wastewater pipes and other products for the water sector from recycled plastic. Such a solution is both environmentally friendly and meets the necessary quality standards, while supporting a more efficient and resource-saving water infrastructure network.

When we work to integrate nature-based methods such as the establishment of wetlands and new watercourses as well as decentralized water purification via plant lagoons in water management, it is also from a sustainability perspective. By involving nature in water management, this not only helps society adapt to ongoing climate change, it also increases biodiversity. Before we can implement such nature-based solutions on a larger scale, however, there is a need to test them, and here Klimatorium plays an important role.

Communication and knowledge sharing

Klimatorium is not only a place for innovation, but also an important dissemination platform where knowledge about climate adaptation and sustainable solutions is shared with both the general public and professional actors. Every year, around 35,000 people visit Klimatorium, where they have the opportunity to experience the latest climate solutions in practice. National and international delegations come to Klimatorium to gain insight into the solutions that are being developed and tested.

Dissemination of knowledge about climate challenges and solutions is essential for creating societal change. Klimatorium holds an annual climate summit with the participation of key players from both Denmark and abroad and, in extension, organizes a popular climate summit for children, which is also streamed to schools throughout Denmark. Here, children have the opportunity to share their ideas about sustainability and climate. Through initiatives such as the Global Youth Climate Summit, young people across borders are engaged in the work on solutions to global climate challenges.

Historical experience and future solutions

Lemvig has a long tradition of practically oriented solutions for water management. As early as the 1970s, it was the first place in the world to establish separate sewage systems, where rainwater and wastewater were separated. This visionary plan has not only provided financial savings for households. The separate sewage systems also reduce the risk of flooding in low-lying areas during heavy rain and at the same time provide better purification of the wastewater, as there is no mixing with large amounts of rainwater.

It can therefore be said to be a natural extension of Lemvig’s proud traditions that Klimatorium continues to work today to develop stable and sustainable solutions that integrate wastewater, rainwater and problem water – also in the future, when the challenges due to climate change become greater.

However, climate solutions are complex, and it is therefore important that we think holistically and work more closely together – companies, public institutions, universities and citizens. At Klimatorium we call this approach the Quadruple Helix. ♦