Fluvius makes sewerage Asserweg in Zutendaal ready for the future
The sewerage works in the Asserweg in Zutendaal are in their final phase. In cooperation with the municipality of Zutendaal, the Agency for Roads and Traffic (AWV), study bureau Geotec and contractor Gemoco, Fluvius has constructed a separate sewer system that drains rainwater and wastewater separately. This system reduces the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall and improves water quality in the region. To maximise on-site infiltration of rainwater into the soil, the new road surface was given a distinctive pavement, resembling hole cheese.
New cycle path with smart water management
Asserweg, once a busy connecting road, is today a popular cycling route. The redesign of the road presented an excellent opportunity not only to tackle the road surface, but also to structurally improve water management. The new separate sewer system now collects waste and rainwater separately. This will prevent flooding and sewage overflowing into the Zutendaal stream.
"With this project, we are taking an important step towards climate-proof sewers. By allowing rainwater to infiltrate locally as much as possible, we reduce the pressure on the sewer system and avoid wastewater ending up in rivers,"Otto Geukens, sewerage project manager at Fluvius.
Sustainable innovation for tomorrow
The renovated sewer system in Asserweg combines three innovative techniques:
- Infiltration verges - Bowl-shaped structures along the road that temporarily retain rainwater and gradually allow it to infiltrate.
- Porous concrete pipes - Permeable pipes for rainwater that allow infiltration into the soil, thus reducing the burden on the sewer system.
- Permeable road pavement - The road surface itself helps with water management thanks to infiltration holes.
Project on the right track
The works on Asserweg went beyond the construction of a separate sewer system. The gas and electricity pipes and other utilities were also in need of renewal. So the various partners had to coordinate their projects closely to avoid the renewed Asserweg having to be reopened soon.
"Fluvius really managed this project well. The weekly site meetings went smoothly with them as coordinator. Fluvius also has a very solution-oriented way of thinking, so the necessary corrections were always made quickly."
Matty Coninx, alderman of Public Works Zutendaal
Networks for tomorrow
The separate sewerage system of the Asserweg fits within the Fluvius strategy of 'networks for tomorrow': building smart and sustainable infrastructure that is optimally resistant to the consequences of climate change and responds to the new needs for energy transition.
Bart Wouters