De Doode Bemde nature reserve is a popular walking paradise south of Leuven. Yet, the waste water from 650 households from Sint-Joris-Weert ends up there in the Leigracht ditch. The construction of a new sewer system will ensure that the water in the nature reserve is clean.
The 1.5-kilometre-long sewer pipe was laid by means of thrust boring. More than 1000 CSM foundation piles monitor stability. The piles consist of the original soil mixed with water and cement (cutter soil mix technique).
Because the site also serves as a flood plain for the river Dyle, the dirty water should not be mixed with rainwater. Existing discharge points were therefore disconnected from surface water. The dirty waste water is discharged via the new sewer system.
BESIX Infra installed the sewer pipe in a swamp area. A temporary, extra strong access road was built for the construction. It was made up of ground protection mats and tree bark covered with deck plates. This kept the subsoil in its original state.
Working within a nature reserve means a secure compliance with the guidelines in the Environmental Impact Report. For example, after completion of the project, the top layer of the road was to be transported to a bio plant for processing.
For years, the Leibeek in Sint-Joris-Weert was the textbook example for studies into surface water pollution. It is a stream which received all the waste water from Sint-Joris-Weert and which regularly flooded. BESIX Infra and Aquafin have smartly solved a long-standing waste problem!
Project name
Nature reserve De Doode Bemde
Category
Sewerage and drainage, Road works, Environment and Surroundings
Contract type
Build
Location
Sint Joris Weert, Belgium
Stakeholder(s)
BESIX Infra
Client
Aquafin
Total value
€ 4.6 million
