An experiment to clean local water
Due to the changing climate, there will soon be more and more dry periods. More and more salt water is also ending up in our fresh water. This makes it increasingly difficult to provide a large city like Amsterdam with sufficient drinking water. To prepare cities for these dry periods, the AquaConnect Demonstrator experiment investigates new ways to extract water for trees, plants, parks and other green places in the city. Other water sources are being sought, such as rainwater or water from the sewer, and consideration is being given to how this water can be stored and reused.
The intention is to create a semi-mobile test setup on the Marineterrein, which may also be used in other places, such as the Oosterpark and Vondelpark. The experiment also helps create a computer model that shows what will happen if this system is used in the future.
Sewage water for a green city
By building a Demonstrator on the Marineterrein, experience is gained in designing and practically applying these innovations in the city. The AquaConnect Demonstrator experiment aims to extract water from the Amsterdam sewer for plants and trees in the city. When it does not rain, sewage water is a good and constant water source. This water must of course be thoroughly cleaned before use. If this is successful, research will also be conducted into whether this water can be used to grow food in the city.
Water is removed from the sewer using a special technique, nanofiltration. It is then calculated how much clean water this produces in a certain time and how much is needed. We look at what should be done with the remaining dirty water (concentrate or salt water). Ultimately, the strengths and weaknesses of the system can be compared to demonstrate whether this system is feasible.
Read more on the Marineterrein website.