Clean water is becoming less of a given. Due to pollution, climate change, and regulations that are rightly becoming stricter. There is therefore a great need for local, circular, and emission-free solutions.

On Vlieland, the groundwater level is historically low this year, which has consequences for everything on the island. 

That is why reducing water consumption is even more important and urgent this year than it already was.

That is why water is a new pillar on the Construction Site of the Future this year. Together with BAM, Nijhuis-Saur, and SRV, we are testing solutions on Vlieland that purify, reuse, and save water locally. An island is an excellent test location for this: everything you use here, you have to manage yourself.

We are focusing on three things.

USING LESS WATER

At the Sportveld, we purify drainage water from the soil to the WFD standard, together with Nijhuis-Saur and BAM. This is a pilot that is interesting for the entire festival and construction sector, where well-pointing and drainage water are daily business.

Next, we go a step further: from WFD standard to drinking water quality, for testing and for our own rinsing water. A pilot looking ahead, for swimming pool Flidunen and other festivals.

At the IJsbaan, vacuum toilets will be installed that flush with recycled bar water. Vacuum toilets use much less water than normal ones, and the water that does go into them has already had a life.

At the Open Plek, we are forced to flush with drinking water this year. Due to the persistent drought, there is simply too little drainage water available. That is also part of a testing ground: sometimes you hit limits, and then you immediately know where the next challenge lies.

CLEANING WASTEWATER

Greywater and blackwater are not waste, but raw materials that just need to be reprocessed. We are researching how we can clean those streams on site, so that they stay here instead of being transported away.

MEASURING WATER QUALITY

Without measuring, you know nothing. At the Sportveld, Nijhuis-Saur monitors the quality of the purified water and maps out the lessons learned. This way, we know if the system delivers what it promises, and others can build further on that.

THE WATER ROUTE AND THE WAD BOTTLES

Water is not an abstraction on Vlieland. The Water Route Vlieland is a walking, running, and cycling route that tells, shows, and lets you experience the story of the water cycle on the island at eight locations.

In De Winkel at the Sportveld, the three WAD bottles are available. With these, you not only take the best tap water in the world home with you, but you also support the maintenance fund of the Water Route.