Glabbeek to Build Large Buffer Basin to Tackle Waterlogging

Glabbeek is set to tackle chronic waterlogging in the Rode neighborhood with a significant infrastructure project. By 2028, a large buffer basin designed to capture 1.45 million liters of rainwater will be operational, aiming to provide a structural solution to the recurring flooding that has plagued the area for years.

Residents in the Rode area have frequently experienced streets submerged in up to 70 centimeters of water, with homes also suffering inundation during heavy rainfall. A contributing factor to the persistent problem was identified as the removal of a drainage ditch during the road reconstruction of Kapellenstraat in 2012, which has since exacerbated water overflow during intense downpours.

To combat these issues, the municipality plans to implement a multi-faceted approach. Beyond the main buffer basin, an erosion basin with a wood chip dam and grass buffer strip will be installed behind houses on Kapellenstraat to mitigate mudslides. Additionally, the intersection of Rode and Attenrodestraat will feature new grate systems in the road surface to accelerate underground water drainage, a technique previously employed successfully in Doelaagstraat.

The comprehensive project, which also includes a full road renovation and the addition of new bicycle paths, carries an estimated cost of approximately 1 million euros. Financial contributions are expected from Aquafin and Fluvius, while the municipality will cover the expenses for the enhanced buffering capacity. The planned improvements aim to significantly improve living conditions and property protection for residents in the flood-prone Rode area.

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Then a ditch was removed during the reconstruction of Kapellenstraat, and that has led to waterlogging during heavy rain for years in the section of Kapellenstraat between the intersections with Rode and Kromstraat.