Narrative
The original goal of the project was the anti-flood treatment of the water course in the city of Bardejov in a length of 1.5 km, in the form of riverbed modification and construction of a concrete wall. However, this project has not improved the river environment in any way. It involved mechanical treatment with heavy machinery, piling stone and building a concrete wall. These modifications are not consistent with improving water quality and habitat. This project has not contributed to the climate and environmental objectives. The need for this project is very questionable. It needs to be highlighted because it is a prime example of bad practice in water management, which is one-sided, multiplies the negative consequences of the absence of comprehensive water management, costs a lot of money and can in no way be considered as adaptive measures.
Financial data
The project was financed through a non-repayable financial contribution of the Ministry of the Environment from the EU Operational Programme Environment (4.46 million eur, 80%) and from the state contribution (788 000 eur, 15%). The remaining 5% (EUR 277 000) was covered by the Slovak Water Management Company
Recommendations
The modern approach to flood protection has now changed. It involves a holistic approach to landscape and building grey infrastructure that does not take into account the current demands on public space, the rejection of affected communities and the impacts on the river ecosystem are now obsolete. In the future, it is therefore necessary not to focus primarily on concreting rivers in villages, which does not solve floods, but only pushes their impacts beyond the villages and contributes to the water drainage of the countryside. Such investments should be subject to cost-benefit analysis from a broader perspective.
Information sources
GovernmentOther info
https://crp.gov.sk/bardejov---ochrana-pred-povodnami-na-rieke-topla/ https://presov.korzar.sme.sk/c/8083913/cast-bardejovcanov-ziada-zburat-mur-okolo-tople.html
