Leidsche Rijn sustainable urban development, Netherlands

General

National Id:

Netherlands_03

Site name:

Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht

Summary:

This scheme is currently under development as part of a large residential scheme at Leidsche Rijn, near Utrecht in the Netherlands. The scheme is ambitious in terms of its water management and extensive use of SuDS. It aims to prevent discharges from the site as far as possible (through storage and infiltration) as well as to reduce inputs of poor-quality water from elsewhere. Management of existing and new water bodies on the site will be integral to the scheme, providing improved ecology and recreational opportunities. The time scale for development was expected to be 15-20 years, but due to the economic crisis the overall timescale has increased. A vertical reedbed test site has already been implemented within the site, which some data are available for, although that forms only part of the overall scheme.

Location description:

The site, Leidsche Rijn, is located on the outskirts of Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

NUTS Code:

Utrecht

RBD code:

NLRN

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Heather Williams and Dilian Jansen, AMEC

Source(s):

Nieuwe stad, schoon water

Voorbereiding praktijkonderzoek verticaal doorstroomd hylofytenfilter

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Longitude:

5.0522518

Latitude:

52.0964879

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

850

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Mean runoff:

765

Mean runoff unit:

450 - 600 mm

Average runoff coefficient:

0,899999976158142

Type:

Case Study Info

Light or indepth?:

Light

Groundwater level:

-1,75

Average slope range:

1-2%

Vegetation class:

grass turf, dryland grasses

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Unknown

Biophysical impacts

Retained water:

2200000

Retained water unit:

m3/year

Increased water storage:

1000

Increased water storage unit:

m3/ha

Water quality overall improvements:

Positive impact-WQ improvement

Information on Water quality overall improvements:

A test vertical infiltration reedbed was installed at the site, with larger reedbeds now being installed as part of the main development. Improvements to water quality were seen from the test reedbed.

Water quality Improvements Phosphorus (P):

Water quality Improvements (P) unit:

% reduction pf pollutant

Information on Water quality Improvements (P):

80% reduction in P seen from the test reedbed

Water quality Improvements Total Suspended Solid (TSS):

Water quality Improvements (TSS) unit:

% reduction pf pollutant

Water quality Improvements (TSS):

50% reduction in TSS seen from the test reedbed.

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

N/A info

Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements:

N/A info

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

Integration of NWRM in a developing area is only possible in coordination with many parties, in particular to achieve the ambitious goal of an independently operating (self-sustaining) water system. The water system was designed as an integral part of the overall masterplan, and was considered from a very early stage in development.

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Attitude of relevant stakeholders	main factor	There should be a shared desire to create a sustainable water system in an area to be developed

Financing:

Type	Comments
Local funds	budget of local authorities
EU-funds: LIFE+	pilot study in 2009 through LIFE

Barrier:

Type	Role	Comments
Lacking coordination between authorities	secondary barrier	A lot of authorities are involved, over a long time period
Lacking financing sources	secondary barrier	Delays to implementation of the entire residential development have occurred as a result of the economic climate

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Balancing different objectives	main driver	Development of a sustainable water system with recreation and ecological goals

Socio-economic

Direct benefits information:

Reduced requirements for sewer system and waste water treatment capacity

Ancillary benefits information:

Potential for recreational activities in the water courses that will be created (e.g. canoeing and ice skating)

Costs investment information:

Costs of the water management aspects of the project not quantified (incorporated with overall development)

Costs operation maintenance:

Costs of the water management aspects of the project not quantified (incorporated with overall development)

Costs total information:

Costs of the water management aspects of the project not quantified (incorporated with overall development)

Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Biodiversity will be improved through improved water quality in surface water courses. In the scheme as a whole, many new water features, including channels and lakes, will be created to provide maximum biodiversity opportinites, taking account of the requirements of target species.

Ecosystem provisioning services:

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

N/A info

Ecosystem water supply:

Information on Ecosystem water supply:

Increased infiltration to groundwater

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

Reduced energy use (farm operations)

Information on Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

In overall scheme, there will be a probable reduction in pumping requirements compared to the existing agricultural water management system.

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

By keeping storm water in the Lijdsche Rijn area (through storage and infiltration), the communal waste water sytem and treatmentplant will be relieved. Emissions to surface water will be reduced

Quantified objectives:

Less than 0,15 mg/l P (phosphate) in watersystem

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Wider plan type	Wider plan focus	Name	Comments
		Masterplan Leidsche Rijn

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Groundwater Recharge
Runoff control
Peak-flow reduction
Pollutants Removal

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Field Scale

Performance timescale:

> 20 years

Area (ha):

2400

Size:

146

Size unit:

Design capacity description:

The test reedbed that has already been installed at the site has the capacity to infiltration filter 2,2 million m3/year and 50% removal of suspended solids

Basis of design:

2-year storm

Design contractual arrangement:

Design consultation activity:

Activity stage	Name	Key issues	Comments
	n/a

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Local water authority	Monitoring	HDSR
Other	Other	Gemeente Utrecht	Communal authority responsible for collection of storm water and other urban water in Vleuten-De Meern district
Other	Financing	Gemeente Vleuten-De Meern	Communal authority responsible for collection of storm water and other urban water in Vleuten-De Meern district
Other	Other	Provincie Utrecht	Regional authority (Province) responsible for natura 2000 and spatial planning

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

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Leidsche Rijn sustainable urban development, Netherlands

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