Tradition meets modern water management

Village in the green heart of the Netherlands

Brick houses, windmills, historic churches, and plenty of water – Bodegraven is a typically Dutch village that has retained its romantic and charming character despite having around 20,000 inhabitants. Located in the heart of the Netherlands between the four major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, Bodegraven is part of the municipality of Bodegraven-Reeuwijk. Companies in Bodegraven play an important role in sectors such as agriculture and food production, logistics, construction, and technical services.

Modern drainage for a climate-resilient village

Drainage and water management play a central role in Bodegraven due to its geographical location and its cool, humid climate, which also promotes material fatigue in drainage systems. To protect the village from flooding in the future and prevent inundation, extensive maintenance and modernization measures have recently begun in the historic town center. Among other things, the municipality has started replacing the drainage channels installed in the roadway.

New systems secure the infrastructure

Loosely laid and damaged drainage channels in the city center—caused by weather influences, mechanical stress from vehicles, and ground subsidence due to the settling of soft peat soil—led to tripping hazards, rattling noises from loose cast-iron covers, leaks, and erosion beneath the surface. The result: an increased risk of accidents for pedestrians, impaired sewer functionality, higher maintenance efforts, and potential flooding during heavy rainfall.

Rehabilitation of drainage channels in streets with pedestrian and vehicular traffic

The employees of the municipality of Bodegraven responsible for this area are well aware of how complex the rehabilitation of drainage systems can be. While the on-site execution by a specialized contractor plays the most important role, numerous administrative tasks must also be completed in advance. The municipality of Bodegraven handles this in an exemplary manner.

The rehabilitation of the drainage channels requires careful planning and coordinated construction processes. The goal is to ensure the safety of all road users, restore the functionality of the drainage system, and at the same time minimize the impact on daily life as much as possible. For this reason, work is carried out on only one street at a time. According to the contractor’s schedule, the entire project is being completed over a period of 22 weeks in construction sections ranging from 40 to 80 meters in length. This allows some sections of the channel to be rehabilitated while others remain open.

The workflow on the streets is almost always the same. First, parts of the paving are removed, the outdated and in some cases damaged drainage channels are dismantled, and replaced with new monolithic Hydrotec drainage channels. Since February of this year, a total of 640 meters of HYDROblock 150 have been or are being installed. Since the start of the measures in 2024, around 1,100 meters of HYDROblock 100 and 150 drainage channels have been delivered and installed.

HYDROblock® drainage channel – monolithic and robust

HYDROblock® drainage channels, here in the DN 150 version with an intake cross-section of 519 cm²/m, already offer significant advantages in terms of on-site logistics and transport. The channel elements, with an installation length of 1,000 mm, a height of 225 mm, and a weight of approximately 50 kg, can be installed with ease. The monolithic design of this linear drainage system is particularly beneficial, as the absence of loose parts ensures quiet, rattle-free operation.

Thanks to the material EN-GJS-500 (ductile cast iron), the system also offers major advantages over other materials in terms of resistance to material fatigue, especially under heavy loads. The monolithic channel bodies are ideally suited for high load capacities, including transverse traffic loads. This robust system is suitable for load class F 900 in accordance with DIN EN 1433. Matching inspection elements allow for easy maintenance and cleaning.

Another key advantage is the ease of installation. In installation situations such as in Bodegraven, the HYDROblock® does not require concrete encasement or complex formwork. This can reduce labor costs by up to 55%. Thanks to the socket-and-spigot system, the drainage channel can be connected like a pipe. This ensures full compatibility with standard KG pipes. The integrated NBR socket seal at the channel joint guarantees watertightness even in the event of ground settlement. Due to its well-engineered design, the HYDROblock® drainage channel can be directly paved around, concreted, or asphalted—regardless of the load class.