Sustainable Water Storage Under the New Building on Professor Einsteinlaan
Water tanks that store rainwater to flush the toilets. Robert Gras of Niersman Project Development showed Alderman Hans van der Elst today what such a sustainable solution looks like. He did so at the new construction site on Professor Einsteinlaan.
On Professor Einsteinlaan, Niersman is building seventeen single-family homes and seven rental apartments, six of which are social housing units. A unique and sustainable feature of the plan is the installation of a 4,500-liter water tank in the foundation of each home, which allows for the storage of rainwater. That rainwater is not discharged directly into the sewer system but is stored for use as toilet flush water.
Lower costs for the tenant
Councilman Hans van der Elst is enthusiastic about what Robert Gras showed him today. “By collecting rainwater, we reduce the risk of flooding,” the alderman explains. “These water bags take some of the strain off the sewer system. The extra good news for tenants is that their costs will go down. After all, they won’t be using precious drinking water to flush the toilet—they’ll be using free rainwater instead.”
Freshwater scarcity
Water reuse is important because freshwater scarcity will increase in the future. By making the most of rainwater, we reduce the strain on the drinking water supply. The water bags in the foundation require little additional excavation and have virtually no maintenance costs. They are made of very strong, UV-resistant plastic, which prevents algae growth.