Rainwater management in Zittau

At the expert exchange in Zittau, experts, municipal representatives and citizens discussed sponge city concepts and blue-green infrastructures - with impulses, practical examples and an exhibition. Saxony⁵ connects science, cities and society for climate-resilient urban development.

How can cities cope better with heavy rainfall and dry spells? This question was the focus of a specialist event that took place in the Theaterring Zittau on 16 May 2025. Stakeholders from urban planning, science and civil society came together under the title "Sponge city concepts and blue-green infrastructures" . The event was part of the "GreenZitty" strategy process of the city of Zittau and was organized as part of the Saxony⁵ transfer network.

Initiated by the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, the city of Zittau and the municipal museums, the format offered a variety of insights into pioneering methods for rainwater use and storage. In keynote speeches, practical examples and a panel discussion, it became clear that technical solutions alone are not enough - concepts for society as a whole and cooperation are needed.

A central concern of the Saxony⁵ transfer network is to bring together different perspectives. This has been achieved: Experts from Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Freiberg and the Zittau region discussed viable strategies for climate-adapted cities together with citizens.

Parallel to the event, the "REGENIAL!" exhibition was shown in the foyer of the Theaterring. The Berlin Rainwater Agency presented an exhibition of award-winning projects for rainwater utilization - from green schoolyards and green roofs to integrative neighbourhood concepts. The exhibition provided numerous ideas for future measures, particularly with regard to historical urban structures such as those in Zittau.

Specific questions for the region were discussed in the concluding panel discussion:

• What measures can be implemented in the short term?
• What new collaborations are necessary?
• How can knowledge transfer be anchored in the long term?

The discussion showed that the path to climate-resilient cities leads through interdisciplinary exchange - and through spaces in which this exchange can take place. Saxony⁵ sees itself as a platform for precisely such spaces. The Zittau expert exchange is a successful example of how universities, city administrations and civil society can tackle specific challenges together.

The "Sustainable Business Hub" sub-project of Saxony⁵ took over the technical co-design. Prof. Jakob Hildebrandt (HSZG) was involved as spokesperson and responsible person. Prof. Oliver Wiche(Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences) was also involved in the preparations and played a key role in designing the program, but was unable to attend due to illness. Sarah Barth (Sustainable Business Hub) coordinated the accompanying exhibition and supported the organization of the event.

Important impulses also came from the Allgemeiner Unternehmerverband Zittau und Umgebung e. V. (AUV), which supported the initiation and organization of the event series "Stadt, Land, Flüsse" and contributed to the strategic orientation. The Zittau Municipal Museum provided the venue in the Theaterring and supported the implementation in terms of organization and content.