Experimental “Water Street” for urban rainwater

Climate change impacts

In the Netherlands, extreme rainfall is predicted to increase due to climate change, and solutions are urgently required for modifying the stormwater storage and drainage in urban areas for the greater volumes of rainwater that are expected.

Adaptation activity

The Valorisation Programme Delta Technology & Water (see Note) "VP Delta" is a program in which public research institutions and the private sector work together to achieve safety, sustainability, and resilience in the urban delta area of the Netherlands. VP Delta has opened a new experimental site, “Water Street”, at the Delft Institute of Technology for smarter use of rainwater in urban areas.

Water Street has introduced innovative technologies to cope with urban rainwater. For example, the Urban Rainshell (Fig. 1) aims to prevent flooding by storing rainwater using sea shells and renewable materials. Since Rainshell can also remove heavy metals, mineral oils and other chemical pollutions,the filtrated water can then be used for fire-fighting or the irrigation of sports fields. The "Flowsand," concept is a pavement material made of special sand that can quickly absorb water from the street, and the "Smart Rain Barrel" (Fig. 2) is a network-connected rainwater collection tank that can be drained in anticipation of heavy downpours through on-line operation in conjunction with weather forecasts.

Outputs / Expected benefits

The use of the Water Street for research and development is expected to enhance innovation for national climate and flood resilience, new urban space planning and climate change measures.

(NOTE) Valorisation Programme Delta Technology & Water