On the way to a climate-adapted city, the mission of the Berlin Rainwater Agency is to raise awareness of rainwater as a valuable resource. There are many reasons why rainwater should not simply be drained into the sewer system. A better urban climate, less flooding, clean water and healthy urban greenery are just a few examples. The aim must therefore be to manage rainwater directly on site, with the help of green roofs and façades, unsealing measures, infiltration systems and rainwater storage tanks.

The Berlin Rainwater Agency was founded at the beginning of May 2018 to support the implementation of the state's goals for changing the way rainwater is handled. The agency is an initiative of the state of Berlin and Berliner Wasserbetriebe.

Our interdisciplinary team comes from the fields of urban planning, geography, landscape architecture, technical environmental protection, urban infrastructure planning and communication and represents on a small scale what is needed for the transformation into a “sponge capital” on a large scale: Diversity! Our mission is the early, goal-oriented and participatory integration of rainwater management into urban planning and specific projects, whether in existing or new buildings.

With regard to measures against heat, drought and heavy rainfall, we have published a comprehensive handbook of measures on our website. The interaction between urban greenery and water is a particular focus here. The various options provide answers to the question “How do I manage rainwater on my property and what are the benefits?”.