The main goal of the "Ecostreet" project is that rainwater, in the form of surface runoff from the roads in the village, is no longer diverted into the sewage system as quickly as possible, instead it flows into green areas that were created specifically for this purpose and which connect directly to these roads. Rainwater thus remains available to the plants. Flood protection can be guaranteed at the same level as with conventional flood protection measures. Retaining water in these areas lowers the amount of water in the local sewer network, which brings economic benefits to the village and the surrounding area.

Rainwater in Ober-Grafendorf no longer has to be cleaned in an energy-intensive way in wastewater treatment plants, but can be used by the plants directly on the spot, which brings a whole range of advantages. Green areas with the Draingarden system guarantee a reduction of the impervious profile of the road in the residential zone in the medium to long term. This means active soil protection by reducing the impervious surface as well as saving energy. Planting plants alsocreated a year-round blooming supply for insects. The bees love the "ecostreet". Maintenance costs are low because the bushes only need to be trimmed once a year.

Areas with the Draingarden system in operation are green areas with extensive maintenance and therefore do not add any additional costs compared to similar areas without the system.

From the very beginning the Draingarden system has been designed in such a way that it can be used in all regions of Austria. The goal of this development is to offer the technology through trained partners.

In relation to the entire regional adaptation process, the new need for climate change adaptation as a local political issue, combined with the integration of climate protection and renewable energy issues at the local level, has been shown to be a limiting factor. It was therefore difficult for many stakeholders, at the municipal level, to distinguish between adaptation and damage reduction, resulting in a lack of clear awareness of the importance of adaptation. Another problem was that, at the time of the implementation, the regional adaptation strategy at the municipal level was still missing.

The adaptation measures established to adapt to climate change turned out to be unsuitable for the local level, that is, they seemed too abstract, strategic and "too distant". It was therefore necessary to make greater effort to "translate" the adaptation measures from the national to the local level and "compress" them. It was difficult but at the same time crucial to find the right balance between motivating stakeholders to participate whilst not overloading their resources and capacities. Cooperation and connections with other organizations operating in the region were of decisive importance for the sustainability of the adaptation process.

This measure does not require any significant investment costs that would otherwise be necessary for the establishment of roadside sewers and for the installation of clean water runoff as it reduces the long-term operating costs of sewer maintenance, extracting water from the sewers during floods and waste water treatment.

The Ecostreet is cost neutral. Construction and planning costs are only marginally different compared to standard solutions. As part of the EU project C3-Alps, the participating municipalities received a budget of EUR 65,000 for process management and support services.