rioleringsnet

Rioleringsnet is the Dutch term for the sewer network, referring to the interconnected underground system that collects wastewater from homes, businesses, and industry and conveys it to treatment facilities, as well as stormwater drainage in urban areas. It consists of underground pipes, pumping stations, manholes, drainage basins, storage reservoirs, and outfalls. In many Dutch cities the network is partly gravity-driven and partly relies on pumping stations to move water to treatment plants or to higher elevations. Some areas operate separated sanitary and stormwater systems, while older networks may be combined systems where rainwater and sewage share the same pipes; during heavy rainfall, combined sewers can overflow to waterways, which is mitigated by storage and overflow strategies.

Management: In the Netherlands, responsibility is distributed between municipalities and regional water authorities (waterschappen). Municipalities typically own and maintain the urban sewer pipes and connections to properties, while water boards oversee large-scale drainage, flood safety, and wastewater treatment plants. Investment, maintenance, and expansion are funded through a mix of local charges, water board levies, and national subsidies, often coordinated through asset-management plans and service contracts.

Design and modernization: The rioleringsnet is designed to ensure sanitation and flood protection, with ongoing programs to replace aging pipes, improve inspection regimes, and monitor performance with GIS and sensors. Climate change drives improvements such as leak detection, storage capacity, and green-blue infrastructure to reduce peak flows and pollutant loads.