From Concrete to Canopies: Europe’s Stormwater Shift

Tighter EU targets are pushing cities and water giants to swap concrete drains for nature-based stormwater systems

29 May 2025

European cities are accelerating a shift away from traditional concrete drainage towards green infrastructure as climate pressures and regulatory demands intensify.

Heavier rainfall and ageing sewer systems have exposed the limits of conventional stormwater channels, prompting municipalities to adopt nature-based solutions such as rain gardens, green roofs and permeable pavements. These systems are designed to absorb and slow runoff rather than simply move it elsewhere, reducing flood risk while supporting broader climate goals.

Momentum increased in May 2025 when the European Commission launched an initiative to cut water use by 10 per cent by 2030. The proposal, backed by €23bn a year in planned infrastructure spending, signalled a clear policy direction: resilient and sustainable water systems are becoming a regulatory requirement rather than an option.

Cities including Barcelona, Copenhagen and Tallinn have since expanded green corridors and surface-level drainage that allows water to soak into the ground before reaching sewers. Municipal data from pilot projects show stormwater overflow reductions of more than 50 per cent, strengthening political support for wider rollouts.

The shift is also reshaping the water and engineering sector. Wavin, a supplier of drainage systems, has repositioned parts of its portfolio under a “climate resilience” strategy aligned with urban sustainability targets. Veolia is integrating its Hubgrade digital platform into stormwater operations to improve rainfall forecasting and monitor hydraulic capacity in real time. Arcadis is advising cities on how to assess the wider economic benefits of green infrastructure, including lower heat stress and improved air quality.

“This is about more than stormwater,” said a senior consultant at Arcadis. “It’s about future-proofing cities through smarter design and shared value.”

Implementation remains uneven. Green infrastructure often requires coordination across planning, transport and water agencies, as well as new maintenance regimes and better data collection. Many local authorities are still developing these capabilities.

Even so, the direction of travel is clear. As EU standards tighten and funding increases, traditional infrastructure providers are investing more heavily in digital tools, services and ecological design. New entrants, including specialist consultancies and start-ups, are adding competitive pressure.

For Europe’s cities, stormwater management is becoming a test case for how climate resilience is built into everyday infrastructure.