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loodingClimate change cause more intensive rainfall in very short time, this is a big challenge for Eindhoven’s drainage system. Because 85% of sewers are combined sewers (Fig.6 Red lines means combined sewers), which means living waster water and rain water are discharged in the same system. Furthermore, in Eindhoven there is lack of surface retention for
water, water must be discharged by pipes immediately. So the capacity of water is limited, when the heavy downpours become more and more common, that means more water on the street causing temporary discomfort.
And some of the basements or cellars in Eindhoven are not waterproof.
After the heavy rainfall, water will just penetrate into the basements or cellars causing flooding in ones’ house. In some specific location, flooding lead to more serious result than discomfort.
For example, the tunnels near station area in Eindhoven will full of water by flooding. Then this area becomes a barrier cutting down the efficient way connecting city center and the hospital.
Fig.7 Flooding in Eindhoven after heavy rainfall
High ground water level
About 25% of the urban area in Eindhoven is vulnerable to problems caused by high ground water tables.
This means some of the houses have ground water entering basements in winter periods. One of the reason is climate change causing more heavy rainfall. While, there are also many other local reasons. First of all, those buildings are built on lower areas, such as former wetlands, without taking into account fluctuation of ground water tables. Reduction of ground water extraction for industrial processes is another reason. Last but not least, the ground structure of Eindhoven is not good for water infiltration. Under the ground level, there is a clay layer here, which means that water can not pass through it easily. Therefore, water is just held above clay layer, forming high ground water level. (Fig.9)
Unhealthy public spaces
As it is known to all, Eindhoven is a green city with finger green structures.
But all big green spaces are outside ring road (central city). Inside the ring road of Eindhoven, green space are limited. For example, in city center, there is no green or blue spaces. It is
much hotter than somewhere else in summer. Now this uncomfortable public spaces are strengthened by climate change. Temperature is getting higher and higher lead to more intensive heat stress in paved areas.
With the development of Eindhoven, agglomeration force cause an awful of talented people and companies gathering here. More cars occur on the streets. Meanwhile, Heat island effect is also getting more and more intensive without cooled down by water and green spaces. Citizens do not only feel uncomfortable by high temperature, but they will also get health problems. To be a smart and sustainable city in the future, public spaces in Eindhoven can not be like this.
Drought
Last year, the summer is very hot.
Drought is become one problem in Eindhoven region which will have influence on agriculture. The problem even has serious consequences for the kingfisher a number of plants. As it is mentioned before, the ground water level is high in Eindhoven city, but the water table is lower affected by high temperature in the region of Eindhoven.
Water board De Dommel has already
Fig.8 High water table in basement in Eindhoven
Fig.9 Ground structure of Eindhoven
Fig.10 Unhealthy public space in Eindhoven
Clay Clay Clay
take actions to monitor the water flows and regulate irrigation etc. However, if the city or even the region has no climate change adaption strategy, drought will become more serious year by year. Insufficient irrigation water directly affect agriculture, then it will affect economy of this region.
Fig.11 Drought
G
reen and blue spaces with low efficient useEach cities, towns and villages all have a long and intimate relationship with water and historically located around a water source, watercourse or coastline as the focus point for life and trade. Water is not only a resource for supplying for our daily needs, producing our food, transporting our goods and waste, but it is also a tool to beautify our urban areas and provide fun and recreation. Sometimes water is a central to the identity of a place.
There is a good water network in North Brabant. In Eindhoven, rivers, canals ponds and lakes are good resources to diversify local life, but the land use of such areas near water is not as perfect as you think. For example, along Dommel river in the inner city, almost no local life happened there. Urban spaces and places are detached from water.
The waterfront near Van Abbemusum should have been the most interesting
public space in the city because of the conversation between the museum and water, but actually nothing there except grass. The canal has the same situation, which is abandoned and no activities happen there. Some places besides water now are just parking areas. Water in Eindhoven is not used as a tool for beautification, people can not enjoy water landscape.
Low quality of surface water
Flooding is just the direct influence by climate change. While, flooding will also bring some other bad impacts which threat public health. Because of the insufficient drainage system and combined sewers system in Eindhoven, after the heavy rainfall, sewers overflows and waste water and rainwater mixed together, flowing to the surface water, such as Dommel river and some ponds. Furthermore, without rainfall infiltration, polluted rainwater (especially from the roofs and car roads) also just flow to surface water. Then the surface water quality is getting lower and lower.
But this is not the only reason for low quality of surface water. The water is always polluted by people’s activities.
For example, in the Dommel river