Disconnecting above ground

Rainwater for the garden

Rainwater is a free gift from nature, and here in Apeldoorn we’d like to give something back. We can do this by channelling the water that falls on the roof to parts of the garden where it can seep into the ground. However, the soil in your garden must be suitable for infiltration. You can test this using the bucket test. Dig a hole in several places, about a spade’s depth and the size of a bucket (approx. 7 to 8 litres). Fill these holes with a bucket of water (approx. 7 to 8 litres). Has the water drained away within 15 minutes? If so, the soil is suitable! If it takes longer than an hour, you will unfortunately not be able to use that part of the garden. Generally speaking, the sandy soil in Apeldoorn is very suitable for infiltration.

You can easily channel rainwater into your garden by cutting the downpipe to about 20 cm above ground level. Remove the bottom section of the pipe. Place a cap over the part of the downpipe that goes into the ground. Fit an elbow joint onto the remaining section of the downpipe. You can now channel the water via a gutter or pipe to a spot in the garden where it can seep into the ground. There are also many different, creative ways in which you can divert the water to a spot in the garden. Bear in mind that the area where the water is directed must be lower than the house and that water will pool there for a while when it rains heavily. For every square metre of roof area, approximately 0.5 square metres of garden area is required, with a 5 cm drop.

Rainwater into surface water

If your plot borders directly on surface water, such as a watercourse, a ditch or a gully, then rainwater from the roof may be discharged directly into it. In this case, it is not necessary to install a storage facility on your own property. There must not, for example, be any greenery or a footpath between your plot and the surface water that would need to be crossed first.