Climate change and water management: collaboration for sustainable solutions.
In a time when climate change and environmental pollution threaten our water systems, governments and businesses face urgent questions: How do we address the problems of extreme drought and flooding? How do we create a climate-resilient and water-robust living environment? How do we ensure clean and safe drinking water, despite increasing pollution from industry and agriculture? And how do we prevent salinisation and water scarcity of agricultural land due to excessive water use? To tackle these issues, specialist knowledge and expertise are required in various fields. That is why Iv and NECTÆRRA have joined forces in a partnership.
Iv offers expertise in flood management, geo-engineering, and the design of complex water systems. NECTÆRRA complements this technical knowledge with expertise in sustainable water management, (geo)hydrology, and agriculture. Together, Iv and NECTÆRRA provide integrated solutions that are both robust and sustainable.
Data plays a crucial role in hydrology. This data, which is often gathered over a longer period, forms the basis for specific calculations and visualizations that Iv and NECTÆRRA conduct to identify bottlenecks in an area and assess potential solutions. Rogier van Opstal, owner of NECTÆRRA, states: “To find the right solution for a given issue, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the data and to ensure its quality. To this end, we develop tools that can be used in the field to collect data efficiently. The information we gather not only pertains to the water system but also to the surrounding environment, soil, and land use.”
The challenges posed by climate change impact agriculture and water usage. Therefore, it may be necessary to impose restrictions on water usage or to implement agricultural practices differently, such as transitioning to regenerative agriculture that reduces the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, such as herbicides and insecticides, or cultivating crops that require less water.
When managing the water system, it is also essential to consider increasingly extreme weather conditions. On one hand, water must be drained more quickly during heavy rainfall, while on the other hand, it needs to be retained for longer during dry periods. Factors such as organic matter, soil structure, ground cover, and crop rotation play a significant role in this. Iv and NECTÆRRA design solutions that address these challenges, for example, by improving soil quality and developing systems that facilitate rainwater reuse. Additionally, they conduct stress tests and provide advice on which measures are necessary within the urban water system to cope with more extreme weather conditions.
A notable example is the nature development project Drasse Driehoek near Tilburg. In this initiative, agricultural land is transformed into natural areas, connecting various habitats. Iv and NECTÆRRA conducted analyses of the hydrological situation and assessed the risk of the works leading to flooding in nearby residential areas. Based on this analysis, recommendations were made on the measures to be taken to prevent flooding and enhance the ecological value of the area.
Another example is a large and complex dyke reinforcement project spanning 10.5 km, where the primary flood defence is strengthened in anticipation of expected higher water levels. Due to limited space, innovative solutions are employed, such as an infiltration system designed to prevent drying out of the dyke (resulting from the installation of steel sheet piling). Iv and NECTÆRRA collaborate closely with the client, providing technical support and advice while reviewing the contractor’s design. This includes analyses to ensure that groundwater and drying effects are appropriately integrated into the design and what this means for implementation and risk management.
To develop sustainable and future-proof solutions, it is essential to approach problems from multiple disciplines. “We must not only establish calculation models but also consider the indirect effects of our designs on nature and the environment. Therefore, we quantify the impact of various solutions using the Environmental Cost Indicator (MKI) and regard the sustainable option (instead of the cheapest option, as is usually the case) as the baseline. This way, we place sustainability at the heart of our recommendations,” explains Martijn Monden, Senior Advisor in Flood management at Iv.
The collaboration between Iv and NECTÆRRA is founded on the principle of complementary expertise. “A broader, multidisciplinary perspective enables us to find sustainable and future-proof solutions that focus not only on technology but also on the wider impact on the environment and society,” Martijn adds.
Wouter, managing director Infra and also COO of Iv, would be delighted to discuss this with you! Get in touch via +31 88 943 3200 or send a message.
