Water management remains a critical concern in Belgian construction projects, especially when it comes to reinfiltrating pumped water on-site. On 2025-05-22 20:30:00, Jef Smet from the Smet Group explained why increasing water infiltration is technically challenging during excavation works.
- Meer water infiltreren is technisch onmogelijk
- Bemalingsvraagstuk blijft een complex gegeven
- Elke bronput vereist voldoende plaats op site
- Maximaal 8 putten toegestaan per locatie
- Oppompen beperken bij elke werf nagaan
- Water terug laten infiltreren of hergebruiken
According to Smet, the complexity of dewatering lies in geotechnical limits and spatial constraints. Although reinfiltration of pumped water is ideal for sustainability, the maximum number of boreholes on site was limited to eight, restricting the volume of water that could be returned underground.
So, how can Belgian contractors balance effective water removal with environmental responsibility? The answer partially lies in optimising water reuse and infiltration within practical site limits.
Why can’t more water be infiltrated during construction? The geotechnical conditions make it impossible to return all pumped water underground safely. This raises questions about sustainable water management in urban Belgian sites:
- Limited space restricts the number of infiltration boreholes to eight per site.
- Geotechnical factors prevent increasing reinfiltration without risking ground stability.
- Contractors aim to reduce pumping volumes and maximise reuse of extracted water.
Looking ahead, Belgian construction firms must innovate to improve water reuse methods and explore alternative solutions for managing groundwater sustainably. Could new technologies unlock better infiltration options soon?
