LIFE INSSURE

European cities, especially older districts built up until the middle of the 20th century, predominantly rely on combined sewer systems. During heavy rain events, the volume of sewage and runoff can temporarily exceed either the conveying capacity of the sewer system at certain points, or the treatment capacity of the wastewater treatment plant at the end of the system. When this happens, Combined Sewer Overflows occur: a mixture of rainwater and diluted, untreated household wastewater enters the receiving water bodies (seas, streams, rivers, lakes) directly, harming water quality, biodiversity, and threatening human health.  Climate change is intensifying this problem.

LIFE INSSURE addresses the three interconnected urban challenges of water pollution from combined sewer overflows, urban heat islands, and diversity loss, through the planning and implementation of multi-benefit Nature-based Solutions (NbS). By focusing on two wastewater treatment plant catchments in Sofia & Budapest as pilot cities in Central-Eastern Europe, a region where the uptake of NbS remains limited due to capacity, financial, and legislative barriers, the project will apply integrated governance approach, pilot innovative cooperation programmes, develop policy recommendations, and share the lessons learned across Europe.