The climate is changing. Rainfall is becoming more frequent and more severe. Particularly urban regions are facing more and more challenges with rainwater. Municipalities, provinces and water boards have the duty to process this rainwater and the desire to make the living environment climate-proof and water-robust: University of Twente is no exception.
Due to the increasing flooding caused by peak rainfall and prolonged downpours, there has been an increasing burden on the sewer system. In 2016, it was decided to construct an entirely new, water-buffering system under the Boerderij parking lot to prevent more problems in the future. At the time of construction, this was only the second completed AquaBASE system in the Netherlands.
AquaBASE is a water buffering and infiltration system. The system consists of a hollow space with permeable stones above, interspersed with small joints to ensure good flow and infiltration capacity. AquaBASE retains water longer so that it infiltrates the soil more slowly, replenishing the groundwater table. And not only that: aquaBASE simultaneously forms the stable base for a foundation. In this way, this parking spot can contribute to the processing of rainwater while maintaining its function.
