Polderroof
Heavy rainfall events are occurring more frequent and are becoming more intense due to climate change. In dense city areas with a large share of hard surfaces (roads, pathways and buildings) the rainwater creates peak loads on the sewage system, causing nuisance, damage and spilling of sewage in surface water. Municipalities want to limit the runoff of rainwater to the sewage system to reduce investments in the sewage system and damage caused due to excess rainwater.
Rooftops are generally poorly used areas and therefore have enormous potential. The Polder roof uses the roof surface to create a water buffer and create a new roof surface for other rooftop functions. The Polder roof then controls the flow of rainwater to the downspout. When it is raining the rainwater runoff is stopped and when the rainwater in the sewage system is processed the Polder roof starts to empty the rainwater buffer, offsetting the peak of rainwater flow into the sewage system.
ProSystem prototype demonstration in operational environment.
Prototype near or at planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment.
Prototype near or at planned operational system. Represents a major step up from TRL 6 by requiring demonstration of an actual system prototype in an operational environment.
We have made one polder roof last year and are planning to build four more in the next month, however there are still some problems to be tackled in production level and on the IT side of the product.
How does it work?
The Polder roof consists of a water buffer created from modules that create a void where rainwater can be stored in. This buffer is locked in by the edge of the roof or dikes creating a basin. The third element is the “Smart Flow Control” which is a control unit that controls the water level height in the water buffer and ensures the safety aspects of the roof with input of several sensors that measure environmental effects on the rooftop.
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