pomppunten

Pomppunten is a Dutch term that can refer to locations within a drainage, irrigation, or flood-management network where water is pumped from one area to another or to a higher receiving body. In practice, a pomppunt often corresponds to the site of a pumping installation, such as a pumping station or a dedicated pumping point within a polder, urban drainage system, or industrial drainage network.

A typical pomppunt consists of an intake or sump, pumps, discharge pipes, and control equipment. Modern installations are usually automated and monitored remotely, with sensors that regulate pump operation to maintain target water levels and prevent surface or sewer overflows. Some pomppunten include backup power supplies and protective measures against backflow, sediment buildup, and fouling.

Functionally, pomppunten serve to remove surplus water and to convey it to a larger watercourse, reservoir, or treatment installation. They can operate as part of a larger network that coordinates multiple pumping points, sluices, and gravity drainage to balance water levels efficiently and reduce flood risk. In urban settings, they help prevent basement flooding and manage peak rainfall events by accelerating drainage during high-water periods.

Usage and terminology vary by region. While pomppunt is understood in Dutch water-management contexts, the more formal term in many settings is pumping station or pumping point, and in some cases the function is described as drainage pumping. The concept is closely related to wastewater and groundwater pumping, but its primary association is with surface-water and polder drainage systems rather than treatment facilities.