The Geleytsbeek stream springs from the Parc Fond’Roy in Uccle, then meanders through the Brussels municipality until it joins the Zwartebeek. Until recently it flowed into the sewerage system, but that's now a thing of the past.
Uccle authorities announced on Thursday that the stream has been disconnected from the sewers to boost biodiversity and reduce the risk of flooding.
The re-routing of portions of the waterway began more than a decade ago, with subsequent works undertaken in 2019-2020.
The Geleytsbeek previously emptied into the sewer network after crossing between the Chaussee de Saint-Job and Avenue de la Chenaie. It is now off the sewage grid, thanks to a clear water pipe installed beneath the Chaussee de Saint-Job.
Sanitation efforts are ongoing. “We still have to disconnect the final sewage inputs that go into the stream," says Maëlle De Brouwer, Alderwoman for Environment and Climate. "The number of households involved will determine the operation’s duration, but it’s a matter of weeks.”
Resettling the stream in its natural course is also aimed at preventing future flooding. During heavy rainfall, the sewers are often overwhelmed. Reducing the flow of water into them significantly decreases the risk of overflow.
“The stream alone cannot be blamed, but it played a role in the floods we’ve experienced in Uccle, especially in the summer of 2021,” says De Brouwer.
The municipality also had to deal with flooding during the storms on 9 July 2021, but in a different area unrelated to the Geleytsbeek.
“We have plans for that location too,” the Alderwoman says.
