Construction project in Weiden stalled: too little water seeps away!

Construction project in Weiden stalled: too little water seeps away!

There are currently no building materials in Weiden that could promote the growth of the small community. The mayor Ines Wößner recently announced that a planned construction area was being delayed due to insufficient water seepage. This problem is directly related to the extreme weather conditions that we are encountering more and more frequently.

In many areas, the surfaces of the soil that allow water to seep away have been changed by construction projects, settlements and sealing. One example is the turning hammer on Schloßbühlstrasse, which was recently completed and cost around 20,000 euros. The roof of the bus shelter at the “Rössle” is now finally complete. Despite these advances, the situation regarding water drainage remains challenging.

Weather extremes and their consequences

The problems with water seepage are not just local. According to the Federal Environment Agency, there were an immense number of heavy rain warnings in 2021, especially in regions such as Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony and Bavaria. The German Weather Service warns that such extreme weather conditions with precipitation of more than 40 l/m² in one hour are classified as extreme storms. Heavy rain can have devastating consequences, such as flooding and extensive property damage, which was estimated at around 9.2 billion euros in Germany in 2021 alone.

These developments not only pose a threat to construction projects, but also highlight the overall need for better adaptation in the construction industry. This also means that buildings and infrastructure must be designed to be climate-resilient. In many cases, natural solutions such as green roofs and retention roofs can help to make better use of the unexploited capacities of the surrounding area and relieve pressure on the sewer systems.

Preventive measures and future prospects

Given the clear connections between climate change and extreme weather events, it is crucial that future construction projects take these aspects into account. Innovative solutions such as green roofs can retain up to 70% of precipitation, helping to ensure that water does not have to drain away immediately. This is particularly important because in recent years, increased heavy rain events have led to pipe overloads and thus significant damage.

The Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research emphasizes that climate-adapted construction is necessary. This includes the development and application of new construction standards that strengthen the resilience of buildings. At the same time, computer-aided building simulations show how the heat behavior of buildings can be optimized to better manage both summer heat and moisture problems.

Weiden is therefore faced with the challenge of finding creative and sustainable solutions, despite the current delays in building development, in order to take into account both the attractiveness of the region and the changes affecting the climate. In the future, innovative approaches to construction and careful use of resources could make the difference.

Find out more about the details on this topic in the Schwarzwälder Bote, the Umweltbundesamt and the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research.