{"id":33040,"date":"2025-03-07T19:40:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T18:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=33040"},"modified":"2025-03-18T10:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T09:06:10","slug":"circular-water-network-antwerp-every-drop-counts-against-drought","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/showroom\/circular-water-network-antwerp-every-drop-counts-against-drought\/","title":{"rendered":"Circular Water Network Antwerp: Every Drop Counts Against Drought"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Every Drop Counts Against Drought<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Circular Water Network Antwerp<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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The city of Antwerp is combating drought and water scarcity with an innovative circular water network.<\/p>\n

By purifying and reusing surface water that would otherwise be lost, the city reduces the pressure on drinking water supplies, keeps urban greenery healthy, and addresses historically low groundwater levels.<\/p>\n

Sweco is studying the development of two circular water pipelines, contributing to a climate-resilient city.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Client<\/dt>\n
City of Antwerp<\/dd>\n
Location<\/dt>\n
Antwerp<\/dd>\n
Expertise<\/dt>\n
Hydraulic infrastructure, integrated water management, climate adaptation, water purification<\/dd>\n
Stakeholders<\/dt>\n
water-link, ZOO Antwerpen, AG Vespa, Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, Aquafin<\/dd>\n <\/dl>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Climate change increasingly brings extreme weather conditions. Therefore, it is important to prepare for this. During dry periods, the use of drinking water for irrigation or filling swimming pools may be temporarily prohibited. Drought also leads to empty city ponds, low groundwater levels, and more heat in urban areas.<\/p>\n

In Antwerp, there is an additional risk during extremely dry periods when brackish Scheldt water infiltrates the groundwater table. This brackish water displaces the fresh groundwater, adversely affecting urban greenery and damaging the foundations of buildings and other structures. Urban greenery is essential to keep Antwerp cool during hot summers.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Purified Wastewater for Urban Greenery<\/h2>\n

To combat drought and save precious drinking water, a feasibility study was conducted on the development of a circular water network. This new water network would form a second water circuit for the city, alongside the existing drinking water circuit.<\/p>\n

This pipeline network will be fed by permanent dewatering and surface water from the river Groot Schijn. This water is currently pumped towards Lobroekdok, ending up in the harbor where it becomes brackish (and unusable). This circular city water network will provide water for parks, ponds, public greenery, and fountains, and can also be used as greywater for large public buildings.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\"Circulair<\/p>\n

Biodiversity and Groundwater Benefits<\/h2>\n

This new water network offers numerous benefits. Antwerp saves a lot of drinking water, and green areas receive sufficient water, allowing urban greenery to grow better and healthier. This helps combat urban warming, creates a healthier living environment with more biodiversity, and improves groundwater levels.<\/p>\n

Surface water that would normally be pumped to the sea and thus become saline and lost can be purified and reused in the city. It is estimated that we can recover 3,500 m\u00b3 of water daily, equivalent to about 25,000 swimming pools per year (an average pool contains 50 m\u00b3). This water can be used in the following ways:<\/p>\n