When every drop counts. Innovative solutions for water management.

What if no more water comes out of the tap? Much of the Netherlands is already facing structural water shortages. In regions such as Utrecht, Twente and West Brabant, the shortage is even so great that some companies and new construction projects can no longer be connected to the drinking water network. This calls for innovative solutions and a new approach to water management.

Rudolf van de Velde, product specialist at Wildkamp, sees inspiration from our southern neighbors. "In Belgium, rainwater harvesting is already mandatory. There, the cost per cubic meter of water is also higher, which increases the necessity." The approach in Belgium is already having results: Flemings use an average of 89 liters of tap water, 11 liters of rainwater and 2 liters of groundwater per day. This approach offers valuable insights for the Netherlands, where the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has set an ambitious goal: to reduce the average Dutch person's drinking water consumption from about 130 liters to 100 liters per day by 2035.

There is growing policy interest in drinking water conservation measures, both through changing consumer behavior and replacing drinking water with rainwater and graywater systems. It is also being investigated whether a different pricing structure can help save on drinking water, for example by introducing a higher rate above a certain consumption level. This could encourage consumers and businesses to be more conscious of their water consumption.

At Wildkamp, the demand for water-saving solutions is increasing. Van de Velde: "You already see that companies cannot expand, because the water company cannot guarantee the water capacity at peaks. Also, the prognosis is that drinking water will become a lot more expensive in the coming years. The water companies are placing these costs on large consumers. These are reasons that more and more companies are seeing the benefits of rainwater recycling and are moving to invest in it."

Wildkamp is constantly looking for sustainable solutions that prevent water waste, such as collecting, infiltrating or reusing rainwater for toilet flushing, washing or garden watering. Van de Velde emphasizes, "We are increasingly experiencing both flooding and prolonged drought. Discharging rainwater through the sewer system is wasteful, especially when gardens need water. Infiltration systems, such as infiltration crates, buffer water during heavy rainfall and allow it to gradually seep into the ground. This helps maintain groundwater levels and prevents rapid drying out of the soil."

Another solution is to capture the rainwater and reuse it. Van de Velde explains: "By using filtered rainwater for the washing machine, garden or flushing the toilet, you also save on expensive drinking water. With our rainwater system, this can be done safely and reliably. The system collects rainwater, filters it and then pumps it back to the consumption points within the plot."

Addressing water shortages requires innovative solutions and policies. By taking inspiration from countries such as Belgium and investing in sustainable systems such as rainwater storage systems, we can reduce water consumption and be better prepared for the future. "With our extensive range of infiltration products and rainwater harvesting systems, we can provide our customers with a complete system to use rainwater smarter," Van de Velde concludes.