The summer of 2018 was extremely dry, and the summers that followed were also drier than average. This was clearly evident in the city parks, where the grass had turned yellow and many plants had not survived. Drought can also be a problem in the garden.
Here are some measures you can take to combat drought
Over the past few summers, water pressure has fallen due to the huge demand for clean drinking water. The water company Vitens therefore called on everyone to use drinking water sparingly. By taking a number of measures, you can prevent your garden from drying out, which will reduce your water consumption during dry spells whilst ensuring your plants get everything they need.
Store water in a wadi or rainwater pond
A wadi is a ditch or channel through which rainwater can slowly seep into the ground. It has a vegetated top layer with a (water-)permeable base. This base may consist of gravel, lava rock or fired clay pellets, through which the rainwater can slowly drain away. As a result, the soil dries out less than it would if you were to drain the water away via the sewer system. A wadi is accessible on foot and can be used, for example, as a nature reserve, playground or park. You can even create a wadi in your own garden, for example, underneath a trampoline! A rainwater pond can also collect a great deal of rainwater. Furthermore, a rainwater pond provides a habitat for all sorts of insects, birds and amphibians.
Greening
Plants retain rainwater in their roots and leaves. Healthy, rich soil with a layer of vegetation or a thick layer of mulch also retains a lot of water. By combining taller plants with deep roots and ground cover that protects the soil, you can therefore ensure that your garden is less susceptible to drought.
Collect rainwater
To help ease the burden on the Vitens water company during periods of drought, you can collect your own rainwater using, for example, a rainwater harvesting system. Installing such a system can save up to 100,000 litres of drinking water a year! You could also, for example, connect a rain barrel (make sure it’s empty when it freezes) or put up a rainwater-collecting fence.
Apeldoorn City Council wants to encourage its residents to disconnect the downpipe at their homes from the sewer system and is offering a grant: Grant for rainwater diversion.