Torrential Downpour in Solingen: 2000 Tons of Rain to Facilitate Sustainable Water Management
In Solingen, Germany, the Sparing and Building Association (SBV) is embarking on an innovative water management project aimed at reducing the consumption of drinking water for irrigation. This initiative, which is set to start in June 2024, will see approximately 2,000 rainwater tanks installed in SBV settlements, each with a capacity of 430 liters.
The main purpose of this project is to irrigate the green areas and gardens in the Solingen settlements, thereby reducing the use of drinking water for irrigation. This move is significant, as it sets an important example in the Klingenstadt, according to Ariane Bischoff, the head of sustainability and climate protection at the town hall.
The use of rainwater for irrigation is ideal, as stated by Ariane Bischoff, and it also has the added benefit of reducing the demand for drinking water, thus saving water that can be used for other purposes. The collected rainwater can also be used for cleaning purposes, further conserving drinking water.
The rainwater tanks are mounted on the respective house wall and connected directly to the roof drainage system. Each tank weighs around 46 kilograms and has a filter system and a return line. The connections for the rainwater tanks are standardized, making it easy to connect a hose.
The SBV keeps 140 liters of water from each tank for their own use, and the remaining 290 liters are available for their tenants. Aricon, a Solingen-based company, is delivering 300 rainwater tanks to the SBV, with 100 initially being installed in the Weegerhof settlement.
Uwe Asbach, a board member of the SBV, explained that water management is a building block of their activities towards CO2 neutrality. This project is part of the SBV's efforts towards achieving CO2 neutrality by 2045.
The SBV emphasizes that both the cooperative and the local tenants will benefit from the water reserve set up by this initiative. The group "Greenlings", a group of residents from the SBV settlement Weegerhof committed to ecology, biodiversity, and sustainability, spearheaded the initiative for this project.
The rainwater tanks produced by Aricon are 100% recyclable, and they are tailored to the SBV's needs, using materials with an exceptionally long service life. The SBV also emphasized that water should not be forgotten in their major themes of heating and insulation.
This innovative water management project in Solingen contributes to reducing the consumption of treated drinking water, conserving energy used in treatment plants, and decreasing the energy footprint associated with extracting, treating, and distributing potable water. By employing smart sensors, automated irrigation systems, and energy-efficient pumping and distribution infrastructure, the city moves towards CO2 neutrality by limiting indirect emissions from conventional water use.
For precise technical and operational details about the SBV project in Solingen, such as technology used or exact CO2 savings, one might need to consult SBV or Solingen municipal publications or official environmental project reports directly.
- This innovative water management project in Solingen, focusing on environmental-science, aims to reduce the consumption of drinking water for irrigation through the installation of sustainable-living devices like rainwater tanks.
- The climate-change initiative in Solingen’s home-and-garden spaces involves the use of rainwater for gardening purposes, thereby promoting a lifestyle that champions water conservation and sustainable living.
- By employing rainwater tanks in its settlements, the Sparing and Building Association (SBV) is taking steps towards CO2 neutrality, integrating water management into their key themes of sustainable-living and heating and insulation.
