The redevelopment project of urban houses at the Heuvelstraat in Silvolde is in full swing and being carried out using the highest sustainable and circular methods possible for water reuse. For thirteen houses a decentralized water treatment facility was built to reduce the use of fresh water and recycle the wastewater in a sustainable matter. The toilets will be flushed with purified shower water and the wastewater that normally flows to the sewer will be purified in the reuse water system, designed by Nijhuis Saur Industries. The treated wastewater will be infiltrated locally into the soil. An additional and significant step will be taken at two houses, where residents will soon receive drinking water from treated rainwater. In the presence of all the parties involved, the first glass of water was tapped earlier this month.
The state-of-the-art innovative installation that processes rainwater into drinking water for two homes on Heuvelstraat was completed beginning of June. Nijhuis Saur Industries provided the solution to make this possible. With this installation the “Sustainable Water Management” component of the redevelopment of Heuvelstraat’s residential buildings project was officially launched. The project starts with an extensive test phase. If the water meets the strict requirements for a longer period, the two homes will be connected to the installation and the tenants will have purified rainwater coming out of their taps.
Managing water scarcity and availability
On average, a Dutch household uses about 129 litres of drinking water per person per day. This high-quality water is often used for washing clothes and toilet flushing. Society must find better and smarter ways to protect the precious drinking water needed for human consumption. It is inevitable that access to fresh drinking water is already becoming a serious challenge due to climate change, increased pollution of natural water resources and a growing population. If no immediate action is taken, a serious water shortage is a very real threat for a country such as the Netherlands in the years to come.
(Source: Pictures StudioSeesing)
Peter Scheer, Industry Development Manager, Nijhuis Saur Industries
“We are thrilled to have reached this significant milestone in water reuse in residential areas in Silvolde, in the east of the Netherlands. By taking bold initiatives, a shared vision and a hands-on approach, we have collectively achieved a remarkable breakthrough for the future of water management in the Netherlands. This inspiring example demonstrates the impact of decentralized water management and highlights the potential when stakeholders across the value chain collaborate”.
Eugen Goudsmith, Chief Commercial Officer, Nijhuis Saur Industries
“Today marks another day that we are very proud of. This decentralized water collection and treatment in a closed-loop system in residential areas is an example how we contribute to reduce global water usage and manage periods of water shortage or excess of water. We invest in scalable solutions to build a sustainable and resilient water future and contribute to our goals to save water. With over 120 years of water management experience, innovation is part of our DNA. We have gained extensive knowledge and experience in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the best water-on-demand solutions for water reuse in residential and industrial areas. With all the global water challenges, we need to explore, accelerate, and adapt breakthrough innovations to close the water loop and give water the value it deserves.“
