The main aim of the project is to improve urban water systems. Some partners will implement the water plans developed during an earlier stage of the project, addressing for example the enhancement of the water quality of watercourses and the realisation of their recreational potentials. Several ?new? partners will start on the development of water plans, using the experience of the others.

The North Sea region has areas of high population density, industrial development and intensive agriculture, which all impact on the water systems that flow through cities and into the North Sea. The main aim of "Water City International II" (WCI-II) is to improve urban water systems in the partner cities and their direct surroundings and to use the value of water in urban spatial planning as a tool to stimulate social and economical development. Improving water quality, the water ecosystem, recreational potential and human usage (such as transport) should enhance the attractiveness of urban water systems for the social and economic benefit of inhabitants and tourists. WCI-II builds on the successful Interreg IIC project, Water City International but has more participants and a more ambitious agenda.

Expected Outcomes

While each city has its own projects, there are a number of aims which all the cities in WC-II share. These include strengthening urban-rural relationships, using water as a spatial element in urban design, improving the quality of life within urban areas by revitalising and integrating the various functions and potentials of water, and participation of local/regional organisations and the public as a guarantee for integrated co-operation within the partner cities. The results will be made available in the form of guidelines to other cities to help develop water plans. The guidelines will also contain experiences and knowledge from the first WCI project with recommendations for other cities.

Activities

WCI-II main activities include a series of projects that will take place in each of the cities depending on their unique and specific needs. For example Leeuwarden (NL) is seeking to eliminate emissions of pollutants, purify effluent from the sewage treatment plant to use as a source of clean water and introduce plants and recreational facilities. Göteborg (S) will create ponds, connect old and new ponds, construct new sink wells, improve recreational facilities and reduce nutrient flows. Odense (DK) will produce a Water Plan containing recommendations for numerous activities. The four partners new to the IIIB partnership will develop city water plans using the experience of other partners. A number of activities are planned to exchange and disseminate information including international seminars, workshops, bilateral transfer of information, and the publication of reports, newsletters, expert group reports, a website, reports and guidelines.

Reported Outcomes

The main aim of the project is to improve the Urban Water Systems in the partner cities and their direct surroundings and to use the values of water in urban spatial planning, as a tool to stimulate social and economical development. The project is progressing well. All partners are actively running their sub-projects. First tangible outcomes were created such as a riverside walk in Norwich or a photo exhibition in Leeuwarden. One of the sub-projects in Göteborg, the Slottskogan park, was officially opened in late 2003 in a ceremony which attracted several thousand people. In addition, Göteborg has prepared a booklet, both in English and Swedish, describing the pilot projects Svankälla Wetland Park. The four new partners have developed their water plans and official adoption by the city councils is under way. A promotional video on the project and the Interreg IIIB North Sea programme has been produced and can be requested from the lead partner or the Programme Secretariat. International organisations such as UNESCO, the World Bank's Water Programme and the Asian Development Bank are aware of the project and intent to use the results. The project held two workshops on the Water Framework Directive and as a result a briefing note for the European Commission will be prepared on the WFD and urban waters. In Leeuwarden a variety of actions took place, concentrating on wastewater and surface water treatment. Applying membrane technique for filtering water supply for the inner city canals proved not to be cost effective and sand filtration will now be used. The second phase of the Slottskogen project in Göteborg was finished in May 2004 and a guided tour for politicians from Stockholm took place. The environmental improvements in Norwich at Quayside are now complete. Feasibility and public consultation on plans for a white water canoeing facility at the site of an old pumping station on the River Wensum were held. The facility will be established after the lifetime of the project. The water plan "Blue Odense" was approved by the city council and can be downloaded from the environment section on the city?s website. Inspired by the water circulation system developed in WCI in Gothenburg, Sneek will now implement a similar system in the Burgemeester Rasterhoffpark. "Exploring Water", an interactive science exhibition that presents the project by demonstrating the properties of water in an urban environment, was first shown in Norwich from June 2004 to January 2005. It was very popular during its time in Norwich and attracted over 8500 visitors. The exhibition will now be shown in the other partner cities and it is hoped that it will meet with the same popularity there. In addition, Norwich has completed all material investment aspect of their project. This means that facilities such as the Yacht station, Whitlingham Moorings and Visitor centre have both been completed. In 2005 Norwich and Odense started a pilot project with co-operation between the two cities on the improvement of the environment through the reduction of use of road salt in Norwich. In Skien, one of the new partners with a total budget of 150,000 Euro, the local council decided end of 2004 to set aside 1 million Euro for improving the riverside. Private developers now also show great interest in developing places along the waterway and wish to cooperate with the municipalities. These are important results of Skien's participation in the project and will ensure that the project objectives will be implemented after closure of the project. It also shows that a small initial contribution from the North Sea programme can have a big impact: the project calculated that with every euro Europe has spent, additional investment of 4,50 euro was initiated. In addition, the co-operation between Skien and Porsgrunn have become stronger during the Interreg project, and they have now a common approach to the development of the areas along the river.