Berkelland and water board team up for cleaner Baakse Beek by 2027
Residents of Ruurlo can expect cleaner water in the Baakse Beek as the municipality of Berkelland and Rijn and IJssel water board implement innovative wastewater management. This local effort supports Europe’s goal of improving water quality by 2027, benefiting both nature and communities.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Baakse Beek, Ruurlo (Berkelland, Gelderland) |
| Partners | Municipality of Berkelland, Rijn and IJssel water board |
| Goal | Improve water quality to meet EU Water Framework Directive by 2027 |
| Innovation | Temporary wastewater buffering, biologically active carbon filter |
| Impact | Cleaner water for nature, reduced strain on wastewater treatment plant |
| Timeline | Ongoing, with EU deadline of 2027 |
| Notable Collaboration | One of the first such projects in the Netherlands outside Winterswijk |
The Rijn and IJssel water board is responsible for managing water quality, wastewater treatment, and flood protection in its region. The municipality of Berkelland collaborates with the water board to implement local measures that align with national and European water quality standards.
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Working together with Rijn and IJssel water board to improve the Baakse Beek
Municipality of Berkelland is collaborating with the Rijn and IJssel water board to improve the water quality of the Baakse Beek in Ruurlo. Measurements conducted by the water board have shown that the Baakse Beek in Ruurlo requires special attention. Together, we aim to ensure cleaner water and contribute to the goals of the Water Framework Directive.
Improving water quality
We are investigating, in partnership with the Rijn and IJssel water board, whether the sewer system in Ruurlo can temporarily store additional wastewater (buffering). This ensures that wastewater is distributed more evenly to the treatment plant. When water enters the treatment plant more calmly, the purification process works more effectively. The biological processes then have more time to function properly.
The Water Framework Directive
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a European agreement on clean water. This agreement has been in place since 2000. European countries are working to maintain and improve clean and healthy surface water and groundwater. All countries are taking steps to achieve good water quality by no later than 2027.
Cleaner water in the stream
This will result in cleaner water before it reaches the Baakse Beek downstream. This is beneficial for the nature in and around the stream. This approach is notable. Apart from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Winterswijk, this is one of the first locations in the Netherlands where local authorities are implementing this collaborative effort. With this approach, we are helping to make Europe's water cleaner.
What does a wastewater treatment plant do?
Wastewater from households and businesses enters the sewer system. At the WWTP of the Rijn and IJssel water board, the wastewater is cleaned in several stages. This process takes place in a wastewater treatment plant. Once the water is sufficiently clean, it is returned to nature, for example to streams and rivers.
Friends working together for clean water
The collaboration is particularly enjoyable because two friends are part of the same project team. Erwin Kolkman works at the water board as a water chain specialist. Koen Ottink is a strategic policy advisor for water and sewerage at the municipality. Both are from Eibergen and live in Berkelland, so this project feels very close to home for them.
Koen: “Normally, we meet up with our families or go away for the weekend. Now, we are working together within our own field to improve water quality.” Erwin: “Sometimes, we have a coffee over the weekend and look at the incoming wastewater at the Ruurlo WWTP on our laptops together.”
Separating rainwater from the sewer system
The municipality is working in multiple ways to improve water quality. In new projects, we are separating rainwater from the sewer system. This removes streets and sidewalks from the combined sewer system, where wastewater and rainwater currently mix.
Smart rainwater management
Sometimes, we allow rainwater to flow above ground, for example into a ditch or a green strip. In other cases, we install an additional pipe, an infiltration sewer. This allows rainwater to seep into the ground where it falls. Clean rainwater then no longer needs to be sent to the WWTP.
Even cleaner wastewater in Ruurlo
The Ruurlo wastewater treatment plant will receive an additional step to further purify the wastewater. This extra step involves a biologically active carbon filter. This removes nutrients and harmful substances such as medication residues from the water. This purification step works more effectively when wastewater is consistently and evenly pumped to the WWTP.
Deputy Mayor Hans van der Noordt finds the collaboration valuable. “Clean and healthy water is important for people and nature. We use it for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry. Many animals and plants depend on it. That is why we continuously manage and maintain our water. This way, we ensure better water quality in our municipality.”
New challenges
Board member Dennis Wolsink: “We face increasingly complex challenges when it comes to clean water. More and more foreign substances are entering the wastewater. We remove these in the wastewater treatment plants. The new technology we are now implementing with the municipality to distribute water more intelligently also makes a real difference. It sets an example for the Netherlands. But we are also looking at the source: how do these substances get into the water? Businesses and residents can play a major role here. For example, you should not just flush certain cleaning products down the toilet or sink. What does not enter the sewer system does not need to be removed from it. This is how we work together to achieve cleaner water.”
More information about the water board can be found at: www.wrij.nl