COASTAR declaration of intent presented to Delta Programme Commissioner
In Scheveningen on Friday, 18 May Delta Programme Commissioner Wim Kuijken accepted the COASTAR declaration of intent, in the presence of more than 80 invitees. In this declaration, eleven parties have set out their ambition of collectively pursuing the improvement and reinforcement of both freshwater supply and (fresh) water management, using the subsoil.
Subsoil storage
The COASTAR project was initiated by Allied Waters and the Arcadis, Deltares, and KWR knowledge partners. It involves a collaboration between several district water boards and the province of Zuid-Holland to develop an innovative concept for meeting freshwater requirements. In densely populated areas such as Zuid-Holland, increasing periods of severe precipitation call for additional efforts. The efficient storage of large volumes of rainwater takes up valuable square metres of land. The innovative COASTAR concept (COastal Aquifer STorage And Recovery) involves a robust, large-scale subsoil freshwater supply, enabling temporary freshwater storage in the soil.
Delta Plan on Freshwater Supply
To conclude the research stage of the COASTAR project and herald a new stage, all the stakeholders involved signed a declaration of intent to round off the conference. Delta Programme Commissioner Wim Kuijken accepted the declaration following the address he gave earlier during the conference. In his address, he outlined the most recent developments within the Delta Programme and the Delta Plan on Freshwater Supply, and pointed out the importance of interlinking the Delta Programme and the COASTAR efforts. ‘Knowledge development is a priority in our Freshwater Supply knowledge agenda. I am pleased that we have now embraced COASTAR as an innovative project.’
Knowledge programme
In conclusion, Wim Kuijken thanked water board council chair Michiel van Haersma Buma for his efforts to set down a declaration of intent. ‘It is a good thing that all the parties involved are now setting down their joint ambition of developing a COASTAR knowledge programme. This is an important milestone, made possible through innovation efforts such as those expended by our departing water board council chair Michiel van Haersma Buma. Bravo and thank you.’
More information: www.coastar.nl.