Concept for development of sustainable drinking-water production in the Flemish coastal plain based on integrated water management
Van Houtte, E.; Lebbe, L.; Zeuwts, L.; Vanlerberghe, F. (2002). Concept for development of sustainable drinking-water production in the Flemish coastal plain based on integrated water management, in: Boekelman, R.H. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings SWIM17 Delft 2002: Proceedings of the 17th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Delft 6-10 May 2002. pp. 350-366 In: Boekelman, R.H. et al. (Ed.) (2002). Proceedings SWIM17 Delft 2002: Proceedings of the 17th Salt Water Intrusion Meeting, Delft 6-10 May 2002. Delft University of Technology: Delft. ISBN 90-800089-8-2. 499 pp., more |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Conference paper
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| Keywords | Management > Resource management > Water management
Water supply
Belgium, Belgian Coast [Marine Regions]
Brackish water; Fresh water |
| Authors | | Top | - Van Houtte, E.
- Lebbe, L., more
- Zeuwts, L.
- Vanlerberghe, F.
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| Abstract | More than 10 years of research, starting with geological and hydro geological survey (Zeuwts, 1991) over pumping tests (Lebbe et al., 1995 and 1996) and pilot tests for treatment of the extracted water (Van Houtte et al., 1998 and 2001), showed that sustainable drinking-water production in the Avekapelle creek ridge is feasible and could in the long-term be an alternative for the existing dune water extraction. Under the sandy Avekapelle creek ridge, situated in the polder area south of the Flemish dunes, fresh water appears in the upper part of the unconfined aquifer and salt water in the bottom part. The Kromme Gracht and Oude A-vaart, situated respectively in the west and east of the creek ridge, drain huge amounts of fresh to brackish drainage water out of the polder area to the sea. This water could be reused: alongside an infiltration canal, that could run from west to east over the creek ridge, the drainage water could be recaptured after a soil passage. In dryer periods and summer, when drainage water is not available, wastewater effluent could refill this canal. This paper summarises research and proposes a concept for a sustainable water production in this area based on integrated water management. The treatment of the extracted water would be based on membrane filtration techniques. This concept of water reuse combined to aquifer recharge, could be used in many regions all over the world and could resolve problems of water scarcity and aquifer pollution. |
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