What is the challenge?
Entrepreneurs in Wolphaartsdijk increasingly face the effects of drought and salinisation. The current water system is no longer resilient. There is an urgent need for a robust system that ensures the availability of fresh water, even during dry periods.
Why this pilot?
Due to its vulnerable location and the direct involvement of agricultural and tourism entrepreneurs, Wolphaartsdijk is a logical starting point. This pilot explores how innovative techniques and strong cooperation can lead to sustainable water solutions.
It aligns with 3ST’s broader goal: enabling tourism regions to become futureproof through local collaboration and shared knowledge.
Who is involved?
Wolphaartsdijk is a rural village in the municipality of Goes, Zeeland (NL), situated near the Veerse Meer. The region is representative of other areas in the North Sea Region facing similar climate challenges. Participating to the pilot are:
- Local entrepreneurs (agriculture and tourism)
- Municipality of Goes
- Province of Zeeland
- Scheldestromen Water Board
- Knowledge institutions such as HZ University of Applied Sciences
- Impuls Zeeland
These parties work together to create a joint vision for sustainable water management that bridges policy and practice.
What has been done so far?
- Information session held about the local water system: key actors, structure, and bottlenecks.
- Knowledge session on (underground) water storage (OWB), based on the Wolphaartswater report.
- Exploration of water basins: covering legal, technical, and landscape-related aspects.
- Initiated small-scale pilot trials to test OWB and other storage solutions.
Contact Impuls Zeeland for more information.