In rural zones, efforts are made to limit runoff and hold water upstream to reduce flooding. Techniques that can be used in urban zones will be the subject of an open day to be held in Waterloo on Tuesday. It’s organized by the river Senne and Dyle-Gette contract projects, with the Urban area bureau and the Inter-community for Walloon Brabant (IBW). It’s a crucial issue in a province where 250 hectares are developed every year. In 2013, 15% of Walloon Brabant was developed, compared to 8,5% in 1983. The province is also hit by floods, causing a lot of damage, such as this summer at Ittre, or at Tubize and Rebecq in 2010. There are installations in place to limit mudslides, as well as temporary immersion zones and storm basins in rural areas. But managing rain water in towns has not yet been looked at in depth.
The open day of study and exchange in Waterloo on Tuesday will look at the best solutions in the presence of communal representatives, researchers and experts. “Techniques to hold back or infiltrate water in urban areas and town centers are rarely talked about in Wallonia. It’s a very interesting subject, and must be integrated into plans for futures housing estates”, says Christian Fayt, president of the river Senne contract projects.
(Source: Belga)
