Concrete is not the antithesis of green solutions – Rainwater management in the age of climate change

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly pronounced in Hungary too: prolonged periods of drought are interrupted by sudden, intense rainfall events. The uneven distribution of rainfall across space and time poses a serious challenge to local communities, infrastructure and property owners alike. The role of the construction industry is becoming increasingly important in this context. It is already decided at the drawing board whether a development will be able to adapt to the new climatic conditions.

Technical solutions designed to facilitate surface drainage, dewatering and rainwater retention play a key role in this process. Leier Hungária Kft. has been developing its concrete elements for surface drainage for years; these no longer merely drain water away, but have become tools for sustainable water management.

In other words, Leier does not merely support solutions that promote rainwater management in theory, but has been actively promoting them in practice through solutions that have featured in its own products for years.

„DWG-format drawings of the components are also available free of charge on our website for designers, which are a great help with design tasks,” said Tamás Major, Head of the Leier Hungária Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Railway Construction Division.

Rainwater for the city

One example of this is the project underway in the town of Bük, where the new site of Parkom Kft. is being developed under the general contracting of Vasi Bádogos Kft.. The remit of Parkom Kft. includes the maintenance of the town of Bük, its parks and public spaces, the upkeep of the cemetery, and the management of council-owned rental properties.

As we learnt from Tamás Papp, managing director of Vasi Bádogos, the demolition of the existing site and the construction of the new site began in July 2025 and will be completed in May 2026. As part of this, three LBT 7 tanks from Leier will be installed.

„These tanks will be used to store rainwater, and as the client company is involved in, amongst other things, the maintenance of public spaces, they will use water from these tanks, in part, to water the city”

– added the managing director.

Quick drainage at any cost?

For decades, the accepted solution was to drain rainwater as quickly and as far away as possible using covered ditches, sewers and closed systems. The aim was to remove water from residential areas as quickly as possible.

However, this way of thinking is now outdated in several respects:

• does not support groundwater recharge,
• exacerbates the overload caused by sudden surges of water,
• contributes to the intensification of the urban heat island effect,
• does not help in preparing for periods of drought.

As we learnt from Tamás Major, complete tanks are now available for storing rainwater; these consist of sealed tank bodies and sealing elements or flat covers used to seal them. Water is drawn off via covers that open at the top.

The expert added that the tanks are fitted with a factory-installed connector for connecting the inlet pipes.

As regards the specific tank models of the Leier series: the model numbers of the tanks, designated LBT 2 to LBT 10, indicate the usable water capacity in m³.

„For the construction of industrial-scale, larger storage facilities, twin tanks or a system assembled on-site from prefabricated side walls can provide storage spaces of up to 1,000 m^³,” said the business unit manager, outlining the available solutions.

The new direction: forward-thinking planning and water retention

Proactive rainwater management is becoming an increasingly prominent design trend in the construction industry. It must be taken into account as early as the conceptual design phase

• extreme fluctuations in precipitation,
• the increasing frequency of droughts,
• the preservation of the soil's water balance,
• the potential for on-site water retention.

With the right infrastructure, the uneven distribution of rainwater can be balanced out.

The aim is not to make the water disappear, but to ensure its controlled drainage, retention and evaporation.

A key role is played by modern surface drainage elements, such as channels, ditches, drains and drainage systems, which make it possible to

• water collected from paved surfaces does not cause damage,
• some of the rainfall seeps back into the ground,
• to reduce the load on the public sewer network,
• to mitigate the effects of flash floods.

The system-level solutions offered by the Leier support precisely this balance: safe drainage and sustainable water management at the same time.

Green trends and concrete

In the construction industry, there is a growing demand for green solutions: more green spaces, permeable paving and nature-friendly designs. This may raise the question: are traditional concrete elements still necessary? The answer is a resounding yes.

Sustainable rainwater management cannot be achieved without stable, durable and load-bearing structural elements.

Properly designed and installed concrete elements

• have a long service life,
• can be scaled to suit the load capacity,
• are resistant to extreme weather conditions,
• offer a cost-effective solution,
• enable the controlled flow and drainage of water.

Green infrastructure and engineering solutions are therefore not alternatives to one another, but complementary systems.

In the case of the Leier, sustainable rainwater management is provided by trench lining elements, which are available in versions featuring drainage holes or supplemented with energy-dissipating elements.

„We offer a range of manhole rings and reducers in various sizes for drainage applications”

– added the head of the Leier division.

Embezzlement or fundraising?

The two main methods of rainwater harvesting are collection and infiltration.

• A collection enables reuse for watering or other domestic purposes.
• A embezzlement It helps to replenish groundwater and is generally a simpler and cheaper solution than installing storage systems.

„From the perspective of groundwater management, drainage is now not only recommended but increasingly expected during the planning stage; what is more, it is already a requirement for new developments,” explained Tamás Major.

By incorporating state-of-the-art drainage and infiltration systems, a significant proportion of rainfall can be retained on site, thereby reducing the environmental impact and the strain on the public utility network.

The role of awareness-raising

Adapting to climate change is not just a matter of major investments. Changing attitudes is just as important.

Virtually every household can contribute to sustainable water management

• by installing rainwater harvesting systems,
• by developing water-saving solutions,
• by using water-permeable paving,
• by deliberately reducing the proportion of paved surfaces.

The cumulative effect of decisions made within our own immediate surroundings can have a noticeable impact at the local level.