The Eternal Source concept for more sustainable water extraction
The use of groundwater for drinking water extraction is increasingly under pressure due to its desiccating effect on nature. This creates challenges for drinking water producers such as Vitens. H+N+S Landscape Architects and Vitens have developed a new concept to tackle the challenges associated with water extraction, climate change adaptation, the energy transition and the living environment: Panorama Waterland. Witteveen+Bos has carried out a preliminary exploratory study for the project in partnership with H+N+S entitled ‘Eternal Source’ (Eeuwige Bron).
The concept behind Panorama Waterland is based on a restructuring of the water system. The current system is excessively focused on removing excess water, particularly in high-lying areas with sandy soils. The idea is to retain excess precipitation in ‘wadis’ (water discharge, drainage and infiltration basins) in the landscape in a hydrologically isolated area, and to use this water for agriculture, drinking water etc.
As well as retaining water for these purposes and creating new perspectives for farmers, this will also have a positive effect by creating new, interconnected wet and dry natural environments. These will improve habitat quality, increase biodiversity and ecological value and create a more resilient soil.
Sallandse Heuvelrug case study
The concept was studied further and adapted to the Sallandse Heuvelrug area in the ‘Eternal Source’ preliminary exploratory study. We studied four conceptual variants to determine the most important effects on the water system, nature, agriculture, drinking water production and other aspects of importance to society.
The objective of the preliminary exploratory study was to determine whether the concept can add value while avoiding any unacceptable negative effects, and whether it is justifiable to begin an exploratory study into the realisation of the concept in the Sallandse Heuvelrug area.
Positive effects
The study determined that the Eternal Source concept can allow water to be used better and more usefully. This will make the area more climate adaptive. The improvement in the water balance will increase the drinking water extraction capacity by around 12 to 17 million m3 annually. This is enough for around 300,000 people.
There will also be positive effects on nature and the ecological potential by tackling the desiccation of the natural environment. However, there are a few local negative effects on Natura 2000 areas to be considered. The positive and negative effects on agricultural production are relatively balanced if significant adjustments are made to business operations.
Prize winner
Panorama Waterland won the EO Wijersprijs in 2020. The theme of the prize this year, which is named after the engineer Leonard Wijers, was: ‘Wonderful landscape: towards an attractive and healthy countryside’.
The question to be answered was what the countryside of the future should look like, following a transformation from a one-sided food production landscape into a multifunctional living environment. It was also important to take account of sustainable and economic perspectives for groups including farmers, as they have a major role in the rural environment.
