LIFE FloodProof in the Segura river basin
Flood risk adaptation and management project for four municipalities in the Segura Basin
LIFE FloodProof is a European initiative aimed at protecting the municipalities of Ceutí, Lorquí, Alguazas, and Las Torres de Cotillas from the increasing risk of flooding in the Segura River basin. The project proposes the progressive transformation of these towns into “sponge cities,” an urban model that improves the management of heavy rainfall and increases cities’ capacity to adapt to extreme weather events.
To achieve this, Nature-Based Solutions will be implemented, such as sustainable urban drainage systems that allow water to infiltrate naturally into the soil. These measures will help reduce the impact of floods, decrease surface runoff, and improve the quality of water reaching the rivers. Additionally, the project includes the installation of an early warning system based on sensors that will allow the population to be alerted in advance of potential flood events.
The LIFE FloodProof project emerges in response to the high vulnerability to flooding in the Segura River basin, an area that has experienced numerous extreme events in recent years. Between 2015 and 2021, 28 flooding events were recorded, affecting more than 265,000 people. This risk is exacerbated by the effects of climate change and by the high percentage of impervious surfaces in urban areas.
The main objective of the project is to mitigate flood risk in the four pilot municipalities—Ceutí, Alguazas, Las Torres de Cotillas, and Lorquí—through the development of innovative measures that help advance the implementation and updating of the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Segura River Basin (PGRI). The project’s methodology is based on three fundamental pillars: promoting knowledge and technological planning, training public administrations in flood risk management, and strengthening institutional cooperation and citizen participation before and during extreme events.
The project consortium is made up of nine partners, combining public administrations, research entities, and specialized organizations. In addition to the participating municipalities, the project includes the Segura River Basin Authority (CHS), the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM), LANDLAB Laboratorio de Paisajes SLP, and Eurovértice Consultores SL.
The project will promote the application of the “sponge city” model through the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions in Ceutí, Lorquí, Alguazas, and Las Torres de Cotillas. These pilot actions will increase urban soil permeability and improve the cities’ capacity to manage rainwater naturally.
Additionally, Local Flood Risk Action Plans will be developed in the four municipalities. The project also includes the creation of governance and citizen oversight groups, awareness campaigns aimed at the local population, and the organization of four flood emergency drills—one in each municipality—with the aim of training citizens in self-protection and evacuation protocols.
Finally, the consortium will work on drafting model municipal ordinances and guides of best practices for flood risk management, to ensure that the project results and acquired experience can be transferred and incorporated into future planning cycles at regional, national, and European levels.