The Freshman-project
The Freshman-project
The sweetness of brackish water
Sweet and salt don't mix. Especially when the two are separated by brackish groundwater. How much brackish water is in between differs, but the existence is quite common along the coast. Can you use this water to make tasty and reliable drinking water? Does extracting mean we gain more space to keep more fresh water in stock? Dunea, De Watergroep, IWVA, KWR and Allied Waters will investigate this between 1 July 2020 and the end of 2025. First in the dunes of The Hague, the Netherlands - protected under Natura 2000-law. And second in Avekapelle, Belgium, where the pilot will be replicated. This provides reliable data and experience to value brackish groundwater and future application opportunities.
How it works
Clean fresh water is valuable, and one must continue to protect it. Whenthere’s not enough, can brackish groundwater also be used as a sourceof drinking water? Does it create more storage for fresh water in the underground? This is topic of EU-LIFE subsidized research. How? Look at this video.
Climate Adaptation Summit
Dunea's multi-source strategy and The Freshman-project should keep drinking water available even as climate change and other impacts pile up. By working together and exchanging knowledge we want to learn and inspire others to help the world and our clients into a resilient future.
The importance of the pilot
We need to fight climate change as much as possible, but also adapt to it. Clean fresh water is important for public health, well-being and prosperity. If brackish groundwater proves to be a good source of drinking water, it can give drinking water companies along the coast an option to be less dependent on other sources and/or to continue to provide drinking water to the growing population in the region.
Having fresh water in stock helps to get through dry times. The more, the better. Removing brackish groundwater at the edge of the freshwater bubble can make the deep (freshwater) extractions in the dunes less susceptible to salinization (the Freshkeeper effect). It also increases the freshwater supply in case of calamities. The European Union considers this research so important to Europe that they have awarded a sustainability grant from the Life programme to help make the 'Freshman' project possible.
Programme & progress
- May 2024 | A ton for LIFE - bringing climate awareness to the public, at a discount
- October 2020 | Website live
- July 2020 | Start Life grant for 'Freshman' project
- June 2020 | Pilot drilling at Scheveningen production site (The Hague)
Publications
Only non-Dutch publications are listed below. Here you can find an overview of all Dutch publications.
Latest news
Een ton om te (be)sparen
Lezing: Drinkwatervoorziening onder druk
Pilots Brak grondwater en Valkenburgse Meer
Who's involved?
In addition to the research partners, stakeholders from the area are involved. Their advice and concerns also contribute to more and broader knowledge.
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TU Delft VLAKWA Evides PWN Waternet Province of Zuid Holland HH Rijnland |
HH Delfland Municipality of The Hague Leiden Municipality Heineken Breweries Dune Conservation Foundation Berkheide Coepelduynen Foundation
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About LIFE
The LIFE programme co-finances projects in the areas of resilience to water scarcity, droughts, forest fires or floods, adaptive technologies for economic sectors, and safeguarding natural resources. It provides action grants for best practice, pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to increased resilience to climate change. The climate sub-programme also promotes the development and implementation of EU policy on climate change adaptation, best practices and solutions for climate change adaptation, including ecosystem-based approaches and knowledge sharing.
In the programme this project is known as: LIFE19-CCA_NL_001222 LIFE_FRESHMAN.
Questions/contact
Nederlandse informatie over dit project
Do you have questions about this project? Go to the questions and answers page to find an immediate answer. Do you have other questions or are you a journalist? Please send an email to communicatie@dunea.nl.