Deltares coordinates the activties on developing scenarios and Bature-based Solutions (NbS), as well as one of the PHISHES case studies, the test location in Rotterdam.
The Deltares team working on these topics includes: Imke Falkena – Expert on soil and groundwater quality; Hendrik Kok – Expert on groundwater modelling (unsaturated and saturated zones); Hilde Passier – Expert on water quality; Annemieke Marsman – Work package leader and expert on groundwater quality.
Nature-based Solutions
Deltares aims to answer key questions such as: How do land use and soil contamination affect soil health and ecosystem services, or the functions that the ecosystem provides to humans, under the influence of major developments such as climate change? And how can we predict the long-term effects of mitigation and adaptation measures?
Ecosystems in the City
Urban areas rely on essential ecosystem services, such as soil biodiversity and permeability, that can provide vital soil for, e.g. recreation, good water management, local climate regulation, water purification and air filtration.
Key soil health indicators that affect these services include the presence of contaminants (such as heavy metals or PFAS), soil structure, soil biodiversity and the degree of soil cover. If soil health is optimal, soil in the city can provide ecosystem services more effectively, reducing the risk of waterlogging and flooding.
Test site in Rotterdam
To explore and test scenarios of urban areas, Deltares introduced the Rotterdam test site to the PHISHES project. The Municipality of Rotterdam is working to address challenges related to climate change and biodiversity decline, through a variety of programmes being implemented across neighbourhoods and streets.
However, pollutants, such as organic substances and heavy metals, are present in soil and groundwater, making difficult to achieve targets for soil health. At the same time, opportunities may arise to combine measures with Nature-based Solutions. It is important to properly identify these aspects. For urban areas, these are mainly greening, biodiversity conservation, water storage and soil sealing.
