ontwaterd

Ontwaterd is a Dutch term meaning dewatered or drained of water. Grammatically, it functions as an adjective or the past participle of the verb ontwateren. The prefix ont- indicates removal, and water refers to water; together they describe the state of having water removed from a surface or medium.

The word is used to describe land that has been drained for agriculture, settlement, or construction. It is central to the history of land reclamation in the Low Countries, where drainage ditches, canals, and pumping stations have allowed polders to be farmed and inhabited.

Dewatering methods include drainage tiles, ditches, and pumping stations; groundwater lowering and soil compaction. In peat soils, dewatering reduces moisture and can cause oxidation and subsidence.

In environmental and land-use planning, ontwaterd land requires ongoing management to prevent re-saturation, flooding, or salinity intrusion in coastal areas.

Related concepts include dewatering, drainage, and polder systems.