Large-scale freshwater provision in low-lying areas of the Netherlands through smart use of the subsurface

Water authorities, drinking water companies, knowledge institutes, consultant Arcadis, the Province of South Holland and the greenhouse horticultural sector have today committed themselves for three years to the further development of COASTAR, an innovation in freshwater management. The eleven parties today signed a declaration of intent during a conference in Scheveningen, which was opened by Delta Programme Commissioner Wim Kuijken.

COASTAR is an innovative solution involving the temporary storage of freshwater in the deeper subsurface for its use at a later time. COASTAR can also involve the abstraction of brackish groundwater, which can reduce salinisation of groundwater and surface water, and provide a possible extra source for the production of drinking water and irrigation water. COASTAR keeps ‘saline at bay, and fresh on hand’, and can be implemented in other delta areas worldwide.