ZOHO rain letters: a smart rain barrel anticipating the weather forecast
The city of Rotterdam has introduced so-called Rain Letters to collect rainwater: smart rain barrels that anticipate the weather forecast. The “ZOHO” letters are located in the eponymous district and serve as water storage. On the one hand, the letters provide additional storage capacity during heavy downpours; on the other, they retain water during periods of drought. At the same time, the letters constitute a fine showcase for the district.
Studio Bas Sala has designed the rain letters as a contribution to a solution to increasing weather extremes: downpours alternating with periods of drought. The letters have been produced in collaboration with Wijkcorporatie Noord, an organisation working with volunteers from Rotterdam-North.
The letters operate as follows. Rainwater that falls on the nearby Hofbogen, a long crossover also accommodating businesses, is directed to the letters rather than into the sewer. A smart, solar-powered system, integrated into the letters, monitors the weather forecast via the Internet.
Whenever a severe downpour is imminent, the water collected in the letters is released into the surrounding garden. This creates a buffer capacity in the letters. Conversely, during prolonged dry spells, water is retained in the letters in order to supply the surrounding garden with water.
The letters have been devised in the context of the “Smart Rain Barrel” project that also runs in Amsterdam and Schiedam. Smart rain barrels have turned out to be an efficient way to engage various parties in a debate on water management. The letters are real eye catchers that raise awareness in the district.
The “rain letters” constitute an elaboration of a smart rain barrel in the public space. The Schiedam and Amsterdam projects focus on private property, for example, in private gardens. The smart rain barrels will be tested and developed further in the time ahead, and the technical and legal preconditions will be explored.
Read more on smart rain barrels on: http://www.slimmeregenton.nl
Contact person
Bas Sala
Studio Bas Sala
info@bassala.com
010-4772790