Residents have now had enough of the showers: “I have gotten wet countless times,” says a passer-by. Between showers, Amsterdam residents try to avoid the largest puddles, but surprisingly enough, they often remain there for a long time even after the rain. “They stay there for a long time, and then a bus drives through them. You’re soaking wet again,” says a boy.
“The system is simply full,” Jeroen Kluck explains. He is a Lecturer in Climate-proof City at the AUAS. Jeroen points to a well along the Wibautstraat road that is full. “It could be because there are too many leaves in the system or it has been installed incorrectly. But after a day after the precipitation, the water should be gone, but that is not the case. This means that the drainage is insufficient for the amount of rain,” he says.
Leaves from the well
The municipality is concerned with water drainage in the city. “It is possible that leaves are blocking the well. The cleaning ensures that the path to the wells is free of branches and leaves, so that water can flow to the wells. We sweep extra and if a report comes in, we go there,” said a spokesperson.