8. Drinking water and storm water management

8. Drinking water and storm water management
8A. Current Situation
Municipality Nijmegen has no statutory duties with regard to drinking water treatment. The
company Vitens processes groundwater and surface water to drinking water in half of the
Netherlands and that drinking water, in Nijmegen as well, has the best quality of all of Europe.
The shares of Vitens are 100 per cent owned by provinces and municipalities.
The province of Gelderland is responsible for the protection of ground water quantity and
quality, pursuant the national and European laws. Nijmegen enshrines that policy in its plans.
Nijmegen is responsible for storm water management. The collected rainwater is discharged into
the sewage treatment plants or into the surface water in the wetter areas. An increasing area of
the city is disconnected, which means that the rainwater is infiltrated in the ground in a
sustainable way.
Drinking water management
Drinking water company Vitens has three water-abstraction areas with a total of 15.4 Mm3/y in extraction
permits. But less is abstracted: in 2013 13.19 Mm3 / y (86%). These three pumping stations serve the
more than 168,000 residents of Nijmegen and around 51,000 people from the surrounding villages. In
2012, the total drinking water consumption in Nijmegen was approximately 11.07 Mm3/y. Of this total,
small consumers (< 300 m3/y) circa 6.03 Mm3/y, middle consumers (<10000 m3/y) circa 2.33 Mm3/y
and big consumers 2,71 Mm3/y (see figure 3). Some companies extract their own groundwater (Sappi
paper mill and Sauna Sanadome). Water consumption in the Netherlands has declined sharply in recent
decades: in 1992 still 137 litres per person per day, 119 litres in 2013 (Figure 1 and 2).
Figure 1: Average water consumption in litres/person/day (above) and International comparison
water use the Netherlands in litres/person/day (below) (Source: VEWIN/TNS NIPO 2013).
Dutch
English
Watergebruik thuis daalt al 20 jaar
Figuur 1: Hoofdelijk gebruik in huis
in liters per dag
Water use at home has been decreasing for 20 years
Figure 1: Use per head at home, in litres per day
Vitens has managed to collect the following data from its national database, which offers a good picture
of the drinking water consumption by sector (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Nijmegen water consumption by sector in Nijmegen in m3/year (Source: Vitens, 2014)
Dutch
Sector
Aantal
Verbruik (m3/j) 2012
Huishoudens
Industrie
Energie
Landbouw
Kleine bedrijven
Toerisme
Openbare sector
Totaal Nijmegen
English
Industry
Quantity
Usage (m3/y) 2012
Households
Industry
Energy
Agriculture
Small businesses
Tourism
Public industry
Total Nijmegen
From figure 2 it can be deduced that the water consumption is on average 123m3/household/year. By
dividing the total consumption of households in 2012 by the approximately 165,000 inhabitants, this
converted in 2012 to a consumption of 130 liters/person/day. The municipal Annual Environmental
Reports show that the water consumption from 2000 to 2004 was approximately 135m3/household/year.
There is clearly a downward trend that seems to have stabilized. In Nijmegen, 100% of households and
businesses are equipped with a water meter.
The Dutch law prohibits large-scale use of grey water. Nijmegen initially wanted to apply it to her new
district Waalsprong, which has very high sustainability goals.
Nowadays, there are some small initiatives in Nijmegen (offices or apartment buildings).
Vitens owns two water-abstraction area in the forests of Nijmegen and one water-abstraction area
(location Nieuwe Marktstraat) in the centre of Nijmegen. Wherever possible, Vitens manages the waterabstraction areas as natural area, to prevent malicious activities from taking place. Around waterabstraction areas, there are groundwater protection areas (25-year areas). The raw water (groundwater
and alluvial water) from the city abstraction Nieuwe Marktstraat is purified and mixed with groundwater
abstraction in the woods. As of 2016, the city abstraction will stop, and all the drinking water in Nijmegen
will come from the phreatic groundwater of the moraine south of the city.
The province of Gelderland sees to it that everything is legally in compliance with the protection of water
abstraction areas. The municipality of Nijmegen establishes this protection in her development plans.
New spatial developments are only permitted under the principle of "standstill - step forward". This
means that new surface pavement should be compensated with 150% green or nature.
Under the old city of Nijmegen there are several large, historical groundwater contaminants that cannot
be remediated. Nevertheless Vitens has always succeeded in achieving the required water quality.
However, the purification of the raw ground water is too expensive (Figure 3). That is why the city water
abstraction Nieuwe Marktstraat will close at the end of 2015 and as of 2016 will be replaced by a new
groundwater abstraction area outside of the city.
Figure 3: Overview of water catchment areas and groundwater contamination sites (dots)
Dutch
Legenda
Winningen
Waterwingebied
Grondwaterbeschermingsgebied
Intrekgebied
Boringsvrijezone
Puntbronnen
HBB-locaties
WBB-locaties
WBB-locaties met spoed
Vitens Selectie
English
Legend
Abstractions
Water-abstraction area
Ground water protection
Retractable area
Boring free zone
Point sources
HBB locations
WBB locations
WBB locations with rush
Vitens Selection
In 2008, the Province of Gelderland and Vitens concluded the Agreement Sustainable Drinking Water
Supply Gelderland (ODDG). For this purpose, the area dossier Heumensoord has been created in 2013
(see 8C). Vitens performs monitoring at endangered monitoring locations to any threats in good time. In
its plans for a sewer system, Nijmegen has included measures to address leaky sewers in this
groundwater-protected area.
For over twenty years now, Nijmegen has stopped using chemical products in green management.
Vitens manages a pipeline network of 49,000 km in the Netherlands. Water loss through leakages is
estimated at 5% Vitens-wide (no data specific to Nijmegen). Repair of leaks takes place within 24 hours
after notification under normal conditions.
Vitens wants to reduce its energy consumption by 20% in 2020, compared to 2010 (2% per year). All
reduction measures are laid down in a multi-year energy program. In 2013, the emphasis was on
awareness, research and preparation. The energy consumption fell by 1% in 2013 (Figure 4). The effect
of measures that have been investigated and prepared in 2013 is expected in 2014.
Figure 4: Energy consumption Vitens total and per m3 of drinking water produced
Figure 5: Energy consumption Vitens Nijmegen and per m3 of drinking water produced
Dutch
Energieverbruik Heumensoord (inclusief)
Nieuwe Marktstraat (kwh)
Energie Nieuwe Marktstraat (kwh)
Afgeleverd drinkwater Heumensoord (m3)
Specifiek kwh/m3
English
Energy consumption Heumensoord (including)
Nieuwe Marktstraat (kwh)
Energy Nieuwe Marktstraat (kwh)
Supplied drinking water Heumensoord (m3)
Specific kwh/m3
Rainwater Management
The municipality of Nijmegen has an active policy on storm water management. In the old town alone,
Nijmegen has a mixed sewerage with around 700 hectares of concretion. To achieve the Basic
Commitment, the optimization study in 2008 determined that 55 hectares already was disconnected and
that from 01-01-2006 another 77 hectares had to be disconnected. This effort will be completed in 2014.
For more information, please check 8B.
8B. Past performance goals
Drinking water abstraction and groundwater protection
Drinking water used to come from wells, reservoirs, and surface water. The first drinking water
companies in the Netherlands are only a century old, just like in Nijmegen. In the years after that, water
companies merged into the current ten, of which Vitens is the largest one. Thanks to the size of the
modern drinking water companies, it is possible to invest more in water technology, and the quality of
drinking water continues to improve. The most recent research (European Committee, 2006) puts the
Netherlands first in Europe when it comes to the quality of drinking water and knowledge of water.
The drinking water use per resident has really decreased in the past twenty years (Figure ), despite the
increase in devices at home. In 1995 and 1998, flushing the toilet was number 1 as a water user. Since
1995, the use of the shower increased by 34%, which is now responsible for the major part of water
usage at home (Figure 6). However the water savings for flushing toilets is now approximately 20% and
on water use of washing machines it is 44%.
Figure 6: Division water usage in litres/day (Source: VEWIN/TNS NIPO 2013)
Dutch
Drinkwater 2013 naar toepassing (in %)
Douche
Toiletspoeling
Kleding wassen, machine
Wastafel
Afwassen, hand
Overig
Afwassen, machine
Bad
Kleding wassen, hand
Koffie, thee, water drinken
Voedselbereiding
English
Drinking water 2013 per type of use (in %)
Shower
Toilet flush
Washing clothing, machine
Sink
Dishes, hand
Other
Dishes, machine
Bath
Washing clothing, hand
Coffee, tea, water
Food preparation
Nijmegen used to communicate about measures to save drinking water (Water Plan Nijmegen, 2001).
Our Water Service Point created awareness programs, along with external partners (water weeks, water
markets), aimed at consciousness and economic water use (Figures 7-9).
Figure 7 (left): meter sticker for disconnected houses
Figure 8 (right): water service point logo for our communication purposes
Nowadays the process is adopted by the State, the water board and drinking water companies, and the
building regulations stipulate that new buildings should have water-saving installations (toilet, shower
etc.). The municipality has no further direct role.
Vitens indicated that they have no specific action/campaign running at this time. Vitens and Nijmegen
did place 9 'Join-the-Pipe' tapping points in the city centre, where everyone can get free tap water.
Figure 9: photo Water Market 2004 Water drop tells about water management
Vitens has created a special website for children: waterkennis.nl This website provides more information
about 'drinking water' and 'water' in the broadest sense of the word. This information is specifically aimed
at children in groups 6 and 7 of primary education, in the shape of interactive lessons. But it also
includes information for other target groups. The website also offers an extensive library regarding
water-related subjects and videos and images with more explanation. The goal is to reach everyone
through children and to explain how to limit the usage of (warm) water.
The municipality of Nijmegen does communicate actively to residents regarding the nuisance of high
groundwater levels. And the municipality has a legal obligation to protect the soil and to take care of soil
remediation. The municipality makes sure that the agreement Sustainable Construction Gelderland is
included in zoning plans. This agreement only allows building materials that do not cause spread of
heavy metals or organic micro contamination.
Storm Water Management
In 2001 the municipality of Nijmegen drew up a Water Plan together with its partners.
• The National Water Board Rijkswaterstaat is responsible for national water management, such
as the Waal river and the coast.
• Water Board Rivierenland is responsible for managing the regional surface water, shallow
groundwater and treatment of waste water;
• Province of Gelderland is, among other things, responsible for the management of deep
groundwater and especially major groundwater extractions and groundwater quality;
• Vitens is responsible for the abstraction, purification and distribution of drinking water;
• The city of Nijmegen is responsible for the collection of sewage, for the collection and treatment
of storm water and for preventing ground water nuisance.
In our Water Plan for Nijmegen in 2001, we decided together with our partners to work towards a more
sustainable water system, with the aim of a healthy and resilient water system and an attractive living
environment at the lowest cost to society. From the Nijmegen Water Plan (2001) the municipality
energetically started to work on disconnection. That means: in the current city (Figure 10) not to allow
storm water to drain into the sewer, but to filter it into the ground, because of two sustainability aspects:
separation at the source instead of purifying afterwards and because of the addition to the groundwater
from which our drinking water is collected. There was also a legal obligation of the so-called Basic
Commitment (50% reduction of waste from sewage into the surface water compared to 1985). Later on,
the climate adaptation goal coincided with the reduction of our vulnerability to heavy rainfall.
Disconnecting in existing areas is hard,
and we were legally obliged to realize
the Basic Commitment per 01-01-2006.
So combined with the water board, we
built a sand filter near the water
purification, a so-called third stage in
effluent purification. With that, Nijmegen
realized the basic commitment. And the
municipality got time until 2019 to
disconnect and to do the same for the
reduction of waste as the sand filter is
doing now. Currently, this goal has been
achieved (132 ha is disconnected), and
the sand filter is taken over by the water
board, which now uses it to purify
sewage water from neighbouring areas.
Figure 10: Operation area for
disconnection (outlined in red) in
relation to groundwater. In the areas
north of the Waal (storm water goes
to infiltration facilities known as
'wadis') and west of the channel
(separate sewer) the storm water is
already separated from the waste
water.
Nijmegen was hit in 2009 by a very heavy storm and several streets on the moraine area (NijmegenEast) and in the centre were flooded. This process repeated itself to a lesser extent in the following
years. The municipality has since examined the risks. Several models have been set up, and we can
imitate every kind of shower and see what the consequences are.
In 2012, we started a project with the residents in the most vulnerable streets to prevent future damage.
Through surveys and evening meetings of residents, residents have been queried and informed.
Residents have been given instructions on how to make their houses 'waterproof', both in case of inflow
from above-ground and influx from the sewers underground. Basically, the law states that houses should
be 'waterproof', but many residents live in antebellum homes that are not built according to the current
rules. Our Water Service Point handles the communication with the residents.
The afore mentioned modelling allows us to better support our disconnection goals. Previously we
disconnected pavement, where possibilities and opportunities arose. Now we can focus our scarce
resources in and around the risk areas.
Moreover, we suggest visions for these parts of the city when it comes to drainage: Where autonomous
measures are necessary and possible (funded by the Municipal Sewerage) and where and how we can
benefit from spatial development and / or maintenance measures in the public space.
That way, we can gradually limit the flow of rainwater above the ground to problematic streets and
secure storm water as much as possible in the ground instead of in the sewer.
8C. Future Projects
Storm water and surface water management
The storm water policy fits in with the ambition of Nijmegen to become climate resilient in 2050. In 2015
we set a new sewage plan (2017-20??) in which we include our climate adaption strategy, aimed at
vulnerability heavy rainfall. At the same time, we supplement the groundwater by largescale disconnection, which makes our green and natural areas less vulnerable to drought and heat. This
adaptation strategy is in line with national policies (Delta Decision Spatial Adaptation, 2014) and the
European Mayors Adapt, which Nijmegen has signed.
Water board Rivierenland wants to cooperate more actively in 2014 and focus on climate resilience, in
accordance with the Delta Program 2015. The water board and municipality of Nijmegen will optimize
the surface water system of Nijmegen to be able to better process the heavy rainfall and make sure that
sufficient fresh water is available during dry spells. Water is needed for both the green management and
to maintain the water quality in ponds. The aim is to use as little groundwater as possible.
Drinking water management
In 2008, the Province of Gelderland and Vitens signed the Sustainable Drinking Water Provision
Gelderland (ODDG) agreement for sustainable drinking water provision for residents from Gelderland.
The goal was to reduce the amount of water abstracted by Vitens, to take care of sufficient drinking
water reserves during incidents, limiting the negative effects on wet nature and monitoring and working
preventing soil contamination. This reduces the effect of drinking water abstraction and protects the
groundwater quality.
For the groundwater abstraction in Heumensoord (directly adjacent to southern Nijmegen) an area
dossier is created, which makes sure that Vitens and the province also meet the demands of the Water
Framework Guideline. The file contains agreements about improving and taking care of groundwater
with municipality, province and Vitens. In that process, also agreed with the implementation of the
measures directs, conducts and finances.
The water abstraction Nieuwe Markt in the Nijmegen inner-city closes the end of 2015, because it is too
expensive to purify the polluted groundwater. In order to replace the approximately 4,4 Mm3/year that
can be pumped here annually, the water abstraction capacity elsewhere in Gelderland is fully utilized. A
conveyor line is set up from pump station Fikkesdries (Driel), which pumps clean groundwater from the
Veluwe massive, to Nijmegen. The additional transport costs outweigh the much lower treatment costs
that would be required as of 2016. Then, the pump station Nieuwe Marktstraat will basically be
dismantled. Nijmegen and some other parties are now investigating along with Vitens whether
groundwater can be pumped small-scale for the construction of a cold network. This cold network can
then work with the already planned heat network (heat from the waste incinerator) to supply heat and
cold to planned new construction (residential and utility buildings) in the Waalsprong and Waalfront.
Table 5.1 (Figure 11) contains the measures and project leaders for the development phase. The sewer
system has been discussed with the municipality of Nijmegen, which in itself is in a pretty good
condition: accelerated replacement is not on the agenda. Repair of some sewers is scheduled and
agreements were made about sewer inspection intensity and frequency. Recent zoning plans in the
groundwater protection area of Nijmegen, some spatial compensation measures have been taken.
Furthermore, almost all the measures listed below are in progress or completed.
.
Figure 11: List of measures from the area file Heumensoord
Theme
Measure
Leader
Target group
Spatial development
Actively adding groundwater
protection to different zoning
plans: Malden (municipality
Heumen), Dekkerswald /
Werkenrode (municipality
Groesbeek), rural area
(municipality Groeseek,
Brakkenstein, university area
(municipality Nijmegen)
• Outsourcing activities not
related to drinking water
abstraction from water
abstraction area
Heumen
Municipality
Groesbeek
Municipality
Nijmegen
Municipality
Municipalities
Spacial development
•Further development of
standstill-step forward
principle for groundwater
protection in future spatial
developments
Sewerage
Speedy replacement of leaking
sewerage in groundwater
protection area
• Prioritizing replacement old
sewerage in groundwater
protection area
Improving
Innovative implementation of
groundwater protection function groundwater
in urban areas
protection and urban functions:
- Setting groundwater
protection in the
municipal structural
vision
- Groundwater
protection more clear
and accessible to
public servants
- Increase awareness
groundwater protection
among
citizens/companies
- Sketch book, aimed at
citizens and managers
of industrial areas, with
creative solutions to
protect groundwater
quality in the city
(green roofs,
alternative weed
management,
purification systems)
Monitoring
Focused monitoring to
determine the influence of
leaking sewerage on the
quality of groundwater
• Early monitoring system for
groundwater quality around the
5-10 year zone of
Heumensoord I
Incidents on track/road Contingency plan. Possible
adaption to national covenant
safety risks
Gelderland
Province
Municipalities
Nijmegen
Municipality
Nijmegen Municipality
Gelderland
Province
Vitens
Residents, companies
Gelderland Province,
Vitens
Nijmegen Municipality
Nijmegen
Municipality
Gelderland
Province
Vitens
Vitens
Nijmegen Municipality
Fire
department
Vitens
Municipalities
Sustainability policy Vitens
In its annual report 2013, Vitens has said the following (see also Figures 12 and 13) about the results of
her sustainability policy: "The following topics are included in a sustainability strategy and developed into
concrete goals. These tables serve as a summary of the goals and results achieved."
Figure 12: Sustainable Water Strategy
Subject
Goal
Results 2013
Sustainable Water
20% energy savings in 2020
Energy
compared to 2010
consumption 2% per year, calculated in
kWh/m3
Sustainable
Generation of 20%
energy
sustainable energy in 2020
30% reduction emission in
CO2
2013 compared to 2010
emission
50% reduction emission in
2020 compared to 2010
1% reduction achieved
No result achieved, exploration still in
progress
Result not yet achieved because of delay in
use of methane capture plan Spannenburg
(Friesland)
Waste
1% reduction combustible
waste compared to last year
9% reduction achieved
Waste water
No structural overflows
8 structural overflows and 9 incidental
overflows
100% reuse of waste streams
Waste
streams
High quality use of compost
acid in Friesland
Environmen
t
management
Vitens complies with the ISO
14001-2004 norm
Biodiversity
Vitens complies with the
Barometer Duurzaam
Terreinbeheer (norm SMK)
100% reuse via the Reststoffen Unie
compost acids have been used since Q3, to
improve the soil
ISO certificate achieved
Certificate achieved: level gold
In 2013 Vitens obtained the first concrete results (see Figure 12) of its energy program. This program of
initiatives and projects is designed to consume 20% less energy in 2020, to generate 20% of its own
energy in a sustainable way and to reduce Carbon emission. An objective in the water production is to
reduce Carbon emission by 50% in 2020. An important contribution (30%) to that was calculated through
the capture of methane gas at a specific location (Spannenburg). The operational phase of the plant built
for that purpose has experienced a six-month delay. The CO2 reduction target it is not achieved in 2013,
but will be in 2014.
Figure 13: Vitens' Strategy Sustainable business and communication with customers
Subject
Goal
Responsible business
Results 2013
Sustainable
purchasing
100% application of National
criteria for tenders (if
applicable)
72.6% of the tenders for which the
Ministry has criteria available
Sustainable
locations and
projects
Develop sustainability
dashboard for all production
locations
Building location Vechterweerd according to BREEAM
Dashboard completed, implementation
with Asset Management
Certificate BREEAM ‘Very Good’
achieved. Construction has started
Making
mobility more
sustainable
More sustainable fleet
New leasing arrangement and leasing
company
Transparency
Increase on Transparency
Benchmark
Increase on the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (voluntary
assessment)
TB-score 10 points up: 165 points (of the
200)
DJSI score same as last year: 69 (mean 54,
highest score 82)
Subject
Goal
Connection with the community
Sustainable
Offering sustainable products
product and and services to customers via
service
online platform
Awareness
customers
Awareness about water and
energy
Increased awareness tap water
Results 2013
Waterworks launched in Q4 2013
Participation in WaterSpaarders, an
initiative with Unilever, WNF, MCF and
Eneco
Join the Pipe points at NS stations
Almere-Centrum (Q3) and Amersfoort
(Q4)
‘Tapwater please’ campaign at sports
clubs; cooperation with PEC Zwolle
United and strategic alliance with Johan
Cruyff Foundation
Stakeholder
dialogue
Strategic environment
management
Dialogue for strategic environment
management
Involve stakeholders with
determining materiality
Dialogue Materiality matrix
Children’s Council Dialogue on
World Water Day
Dialogue about water and sustainability
between a school in the Netherlands and a
school in Kenya
Vitens wants to bring the intelligent drinking water network of the future a step closer with the
Smartwater4Europe program. The initiative within the European FP7 Water Inno Demo Call program
Inno Demo Callhas received a € 6 million grant. The Smartwater4Europe consortium consists of 21
organizations including 12 middle-size and/or small companies, three water companies and three
research institutes. The organizations can do tests with sensors and software in a joint pipeline of
35,000 kilometres, divided into four experimental gardens. The main participants in the consortium in
addition Vitens are the Thames Water from London Water, Acciona Agua from Spain and the University
of Lille (France). The renowned Dutch research institute KWR participates as well.
8D. References
-
-
-
-
-
Municipal Sewerage Plan Nijmegen 2010 to 2016 (Municipality of Nijmegen, 2009) with a
policy on wastewater collection and transport, rainwater collection, transport and storage and
ground water quantity control
Water Nijmegen 2001 (Municipality of Nijmegen, 2001) with policy on surface water
management (now transferred to water company) and disconnection policy (now included in the
latest Sewerage plan)
Water Plan for Waalsprong 2009 (Municipality of Nijmegen, 2010) policy on the construction
and management of sustainable water system Waalsprong
Water Management Plan 2010-2015 (Water Rivierenland, 2010) with the policy regarding all
water-related tasks of water quantity (anti-drying), water quality, flood protection, and water
chain. A new management plan is now being drawn up
Groundwater Policy Rivierenland Water 2011-2014 (2011) with policy on groundwater
quantity policy and anti-drought measures
Catchment Management Plan for the Rhine Delta (Ministry of Transport and Water
Management, 2008) with policy on the Water Framework Guideline. Prepared in cooperation
with the provinces and water boards and some municipalities including Nijmegen.
www.waterbewust.nl (Website Water Service Point)
Area dossier Heumensoord & Muntberg (Province of Gelderland, January 2011)
Vitens Annual Report 2012 and 2013
Report Water Usage at Home 2013, TNS NIPO
http://www.vitens.nl/overvitens/water/paginas/duurzaamheid_innovatie.aspx
Annual environmental reports Municipality Nijmegen 2002 t/m 2012
8E. Best practices
Nijmegen carries out many communications activities to deal with the increasing urban water run-off on
sewer systems. The City raises awareness and offers subsidies to encourage the participation of citizens
in the improvement of wastewater treatment through the implementation of ‘Disconnecting private
buildings’ and ‘Green roofs’. Nijmegen communicates directly and indirectly with citizens to persuade
them to disconnect their home from the sewer. A public information support service called the Water
Service Point (WSP) was set up to handle all queries on water and related subsidies. The city has also
carried out public disconnection in many areas and in some cases has created special features such as
fountains which also serves as a communications tool. Further communication projects carried out by
the WSP are the production of leaflets on disconnection and on a regular basis brings tour groups from
home and abroad to their water works and climate adaptation projects. See figure 14.
Figure 14: 'Are you joining in?' - Flyer about Disconnection
Dutch
Water leeft!
English
Water is life!
De gemeente Nijmegen zorgt samen met u
voor een goed en duurzaam waterbeheer in
de stad.
The municipality of Nijmegen works with you on
good and sustainable water management in the city.
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