Torrential rain prompts climate projects in Bladel industrial estate

Project 1: Climate-proof freshwater supply

In 2019, the Climate-proof Freshwater Supply project was launched in the De Sleutel industrial estate. This project was aimed at having the local government and the local business community join forces to climate-proof the freshwater supply of the municipality of Bladel. To this end, the municipality of Bladel and the entrepreneurs in the industrial estate have optimised the connection between the local water and sewer systems; created local water infiltration facilities; and increased storage and drainage capacities. The project encompassed the following activities:

1. Local retention/infiltration of some 300,000 m³ of water;
2. Constructing three retaining weirs in the drainage canals, thus increasing the storage capacity of the water system by 3,500 m³. The weirs retain water for a longer period of time than “ordinary” weirs and thus reduce peak discharge volumes in the main drainage canal;
3. De Dommel district water board has removed excessive timber storage and removed the nutrient-rich top layer around the drainage canals. This has increased the water retention and water storage capacities of the drainage canals, and enhanced biodiversity;
4. Two additional rainwater sewer outlets have been constructed in the drainage canals;
5. The initial situation (baseline situation) and the effects of the measures have been monitored;
6. The municipality has involved 285 entrepreneurs in the project;
7. The municipality has launched communication campaigns to raise water awareness among entrepreneurs and encourage them to take measures at their own premises.

Project 2: 2B Connect

In 2020, the municipality completed the 2B Connect project. This project has been carried out in concert with the entrepreneurs’ association of the Bladel industrial estates, the entrepreneurs in the De Sleutel estate, and the entrepreneurs in the adjacent De Kleine Hoeven industrial estate. The project was aimed at boosting biodiversity by enhancing the existing nature at the public premises and by planting new greenery at private premises. In both industrial estates, new greenery has been planted and existing nature has been enhanced. In addition, an ecological connection zone has been constructed between the two estates.

Results

The two projects foster several climate goals:

• The water storage and the adaptations to the water and sewer systems prevent waterlogging. In addition, these measures are reducing the pressure on the Bladel sewer system and on the waste water purification plant;
• Rainwater infiltration in the soil reduces drought issues;
• The ecological connection zone and greening of public and private premises reduce heat stress in the industrial estate and enhance biodiversity. In and around the industrial estates, several unique species have already been spotted, such as partridges, hares, and skylarks.

Special features

The infiltration and storage facilities and the retaining weirs are intended to retain rainwater for longer periods of time and thus supplement the groundwater level, whilst concurrently preventing peak discharges and waterlogging. Several measuring points have been set up to gauge the effectiveness of the measures. For example, flow meters have been set up at all the rainwater sewer pumping stations of the De Sleutel industrial estate, which provide accurate insight into the water flows. In addition, in 2015, De Dommel district water board already set up a measuring point in De Raamsloop, a brook rising in the Kroonvense Heide heath and flowing through De Sleutel. The water board has been using this measuring point for years to gauge changes in the brook water levels.

Contact person

Simone Mol
simone.mol@arcadis.com