Have you noticed it yet? The sidewalks have been lowered in various places in Zoetermeer. But why is that? A tip of the veil, it has something to do with the weather conditions…
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What is also striking is that the depression in the sidewalk is often made next to a ditch or other water. Just pay attention along the way to see if you see the lowered sidewalks opposite the water. By the way, we are not talking about the lowered sidewalks where you can cross as a pedestrian. Maybe you can already guess the reason?
Flooding
To make a long story short: this involves additional drainage areas so that less water remains on the road during heavy rainfall. Extreme rain showers are occurring more and more often and the large amount of water does not always fit into the sewer. This can cause flooding and the water will then remain on the street.
To prevent flooding, the water must go somewhere else. For example, to a ditch, pond or roadside. And this requires some adjustments to the sidewalk, they are lowered. The verge will also be lowered so that rainwater can flow away more quickly and does not remain on the street.
Climate adaptation
To prepare the Netherlands for the changing climate, the living environment is being adapted. This is called climate adaptation. National government: “Doing nothing means that until 2050 there will be… 77.5 and 173.6 billion euros in climate damage could be. Examples of climate adaptation are: strengthening dikes, widening rivers, more greenery in cities and villages and lowering sidewalks to better drain rainwater.”
Well, that mystery has been solved again. Have you also seen something striking or remarkable in Zoetermeer? Let us know via [email protected].