New brand as rainwater harvesting solution

"Water is scarce and a hot topic today," said Dignus Nagelkerke of Water2Keep from de Meern. His colleague Carel Soer complements him: "Many Dutch municipalities struggle with water nuisance after heavy downpours and would like to see residents disconnect their drainpipes, collect the water and, for example, discharge it and use it in their gardens." Water2Keep delivers a sustainable solution with its Rainblock® concept. 

Water2Keep contributes to water-resistant gardens and public spaces with innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions. Nagelkerke: "Rainblock was developed by our three product specialists, all versed in the control, collection, use and reuse of rainwater. The main difference with a conventional method like a rain barrel is efficiency; we can connect multiple blocks together, in height and width. For example, against a wall or serving as a fence. This gives the blocks its unique function; collecting an ample amount of water in limited space. Ideal for the garden, but also for a balcony. One rain barrel hardly fits there, let alone two or three." 

Black

The size of one Rainblock is 90 x 25 x 90 centimeters and has a capacity of 165 liters. The standard color is black. Soer: "Another color is possible on a project basis, but we find much more interesting the creative role that the gardener plays in this. In his design he can go in any direction; grow plants against the blocks, cover the back with wood or place a stone basket next to them. There are all sorts of ways to incorporate them aesthetically into the garden. The number of blocks is easy to adjust, they are handy and require no maintenance. In the municipality of Horst aan de Maas, a vertical rain garden is currently being developed, with space for greenery at the front and collection in about 20 Rainblocks at the back, good for 3.3 cubic meters of rainwater with an automated sprinkler system."

Rainblock is supplied exclusively through resellers. These are gardeners, retailers such as DIY stores and garden centers, and webshops. Nagelkerke: "They are the specialists who recommend our product range to the end user."

The number of home users disconnecting their downspouts from the sewer system increases every year. Partly caused by municipalities encouraging this with subsidies. Soer: "Rainwater is high on the agenda and after years of extensive research and testing, in 2020 we decided to register our total system as a brand, with related products such as sand traps, infiltration plates and crates."

Infiltration Crate

After heavy rains, sewers fill up and excess rainwater cannot drain properly. Cellars of homes and streets also flood. "Our infiltration crates are the ideal solution in gardens, under sports fields, parking lots and roads. With these, we collect the water in a carcass that is 95 percent filled with air. The crate is encased in a water-permeable plastic cloth that protects it from soil infiltration all around. Only the water in the infiltration crate seeps away, and the speed is determined by the type of soil; with loam or clay, it goes slower than with gravel or dune sand. So it is not our system that releases water quickly or slowly to the environment and adds to groundwater. It is the soil type that determines the speed."

The infiltration crates are easy to expand and are a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. Nagelkerke: "It also reduces soil subsidence, drought damage and soil salinization. The crates are available in ready-to-use packages from 200 to 1,000 liters." 

Soer: "Every challenge has a solution and that makes our job fun; determining together what the water needs are and what type of soil we are dealing with. The outcome determines how many and which infiltration crates are needed and where we place them. Of one thing we are invariably convinced; rainwater falls from the sky, is free and it is also best for the garden."