EWB Circular Rain started a study in April in Zeeland into the technical and economic feasibility of using the Rain Shell and deep infiltration. The aim is to create a sustainable seasonal storage of fresh water for agriculture, using run-off rainwater from the village center of Stavenisse. In this way, excess rainwater is purified throughout the year and collected in an underground sweet bubble.
The Urban Rainshell (URS) from EWB is a patented low-maintenance rainwater storage and purification system based on natural, renewable and circular material: shells and minerals. Peak showers are disconnected and buffered underground via gullies and supply drains in a bed of shells. Contaminated water is purified by a mineral mixture. This happens, among other things, in a project in Wetteren, Belgium.
Farm
The customer for freshwater in Zeeland is the Van ‘t Hof agricultural company. The arable farm focuses on growing seed potatoes, red onions, sugar beets and barley on its fertile marine clay soil. Freshwater availability is crucial for the company that is already actively working on water-saving and climate-proof techniques. For example, the company invested in the installation of a drip irrigation system and associated machines. The creation of a sweet bubble by rainwater running off from Stavenisse fits in well with this, says EWB.
Freshwater shortage
Van ‘t Hof is increasingly experiencing a shortage of fresh water. The company has an above-ground basin of 5000m³, but wants to expand this. Because it is located on the edge of the village center of Stavenisse, the company, together with EWB, entered into discussions with the municipality of Tholen to explore whether rainwater run-off from the village can be used for agriculture.
Feasibility study
EWB is conducting a feasibility study to explore whether stormwater runoff from the village center of Stavenisse can be made available all year round as a freshwater source for agriculture. “We particularly look at the recovery efficiency of the groundwater that we are going to replenish,” explains Ger Pannekoek of EWB.
Goal project
The aim of the project is to test the technical and economic feasibility of the combined systems, Rain Shell and Fast High Volume Infiltration (FHVI). The project is being carried out with the involvement of the municipality of Tholen as a potential user and supplier of rainwater. Fugro carries out the soil investigation and the associated geohydrological research and draws up the water balance.
Disconnected surface
The disconnected surface is expected to be at least 30,000 to 50,000 m² and the water storage 200 m³ in Rain Shell, the majority of which is in underground fresh water. The agricultural company uses the freshwater for the irrigation of seed potatoes, possibly in combination with irrigation of public green areas and sports fields of the municipality of Tholen. The province of Zeeland is one of the co-financiers of the project.
