Spangen underground water buffer provides water to irrigate fields of the Sparta football stadium
An underground water buffer will be created at the Sparta stadium in Rotterdam. During heavy rains, this will help to reduce waterlogging in the Spangen district. The stadium will use the rainwater collected to irrigate its fields and vegetation. This will push back the football club’s drinking water requirements. On top of the water buffer, a Cruyff Court will be created for youngsters to play football.
The entire car park around the Sparta grounds, covering some 6500 m², will be connected to the water buffer. The installation comprises underground water storage in the form of crates with a storage capacity of some 1000 m3 and a deep well. The water being stored in the soil will pass through a container with filtering plants. Clean rainwater will later be recovered from the soil to irrigate fields and vegetation. Rotterdam is the first city to apply this new technology, originating from the greenhouse farming sector.
This water storage will reduce the risk of waterlogging in the Spangen district and enable Sparta Rotterdam football club to use rainwater rather than drinking water for the irrigation of their fields.
Lessons learned from the project
After the implementation of this measure, the developments will be monitored. The hydrological, chemical, and financial impact of the water buffer will be examined. Rainwater volumes will be measured, as will the volumes discharged and the pace at which they can be stored underground. Subsequent measurements will be conducted to monitor the water quality during the purification stages, underground storage, and recovery for use. Will this generate water of a good and reliable quality to be used for irrigation and play in residential areas?
The final factors to be examined are the costs involved in this method of processing and reusing rainwater, and how these costs compare to more linear alternatives. The results will be taken into consideration in future initiatives.
Contact person
Rob Zwinkels
Gemeente Rotterdam
rhj.zwinkels@Rotterdam.nl
06 204 254 62