Most of us are waiting for summer sun and high temperatures, but for many cities, the economy and Polish nature, this means challenges related to water shortages and sudden rainfall. As a result, both the risk of drought and local flooding increases. The phenomenon of drought is no longer a problem on distant continents – it has become our local, Polish everyday life. Rivers are increasingly recording very low water levels, and in many places there is a growing deficit of water resources, while farmers and allotment gardeners are struggling with dry soil. However, this problem is often masked by violent weather phenomena that give us the false feeling that “it’s raining”
In the summer in Poland we are faced with a phenomenon that seems to be a paradox. On the one hand, there is a lack of rainfall for weeks, which leads to long-term drought. On the other hand, short-lived but very intense rainfall occurs. In such situations, the intensity of rain often exceeds the soil’s ability to absorb water, especially if the surface is dry, compacted or sealed – it is unable to absorb this amount of water in such a short time. Instead of moisturizing the deep layers of the ground, rainwater quickly flows over the surface of the ground, overloading the sewage system, causing local flooding and flowing into rivers, where it has further consequences. That is why it is so important to implement small retention solutions that allow water to be retained as close as possible to the place of rainfall, retain it locally and use it in periods of shortage – explains this mechanism by Dr. Kamil Jawgiel from the Hydroni Foundation.
Retention, i.e. keeping rainwater in the landscape thanks to blue-green infrastructure solutions, may be an important area of cooperation between local governments and responsible business. Blue-green infrastructure includes solutions that use natural processes of water retention, infiltration and evaporation, such as rain gardens, retention basins, green roofs and tree plantings. It is in this spirit that the Rain Garden was created in Nałęczów last year – a project implemented on the initiative of the Nałęczowianka natural mineral water brand and with the support of the local government and the Hydroni Foundation, which shows how to combine the aesthetics of urban space with real action.
Responsible water management is one of the key elements of our activities. We consistently implement projects supporting its protection and regeneration – both as part of our own operational activities and in cooperation with the local government and social partners. The rain garden is one of such projects – it shows how, in practice, environmental solutions can be combined with real benefits for residents and urban space – says Robert Szewczuk, director of the Nałęczowianka natural mineral water bottling plant.
We see the effects of climate change not only in city squares, but in our gardens. A traditional, closely trimmed lawn is doomed to failure in the face of the hot Polish summer. How can we protect our gardens from drying out and better manage water on our own plot?
There are many simple and effective ways that allow you to take care of water retention in your garden or plot yourself. They can be successfully used both in cities and outside them.
The easiest and most popular way is to collect rainwater into barrels or other containers placed under the gutter. Rainwater is free and has optimal properties for most garden plants. However, rain gardens are becoming more and more popular, and those located in the ground not only please the eye, but also have a positive impact on the surroundings and water conditions – explains Dr. Kamil Jawgiel.
The most effective solution is rain gardens placed directly in the ground. They allow you to retain rainwater in the place where it fell, and then gradually introduce it into the soil and recharge local groundwater resources. Where terrain conditions do not allow the construction of an infiltration garden, an alternative may be rain gardens in tight containers or raised beds. Such solutions also help manage rainwater, slowing down its runoff and supporting plant development. It is also worth watering less frequently, but more abundantly, because daily, shallow watering of the garden causes the plants to build a shallow root system, making them very susceptible to drought.
When planning plantings, it is worth choosing species that tolerate water shortages well. Lavender, sedum, coneflowers and ornamental grasses will work great. All this allows you to better use the potential of rainwater and reduce the effects of drought in gardens and lawns. And by the way – as Nałęczowianka emphasizes, they are also an element of a more responsible use of water resources.
