News Edam-Volendam, Landsmeer, Purmerend and Waterland

In the coming years, the municipality will replace the sewage system in a large part of Wheermolen-Oost. There will be a separate sewage system. It’s more sustainable: it reduces the amount of water discharged into the treatment plant. Work has already started. A colossal job, with a lot of impact for local residents. Alderman Saaf (spatial planning), Alderman Verkroost (public space) and Alderman Lageveen (sustainability) reviewed the work and received explanations from various municipal employees.

Listening to residents

Replacing sewers is a good reason to redesign streets and make them sustainable and climate-proof. Designs have been made for this in collaboration with the district. Paula de Groot, environmental manager, explained how it works: “We present residents with an initial project. They can answer that. We look closely at what we can do with feedback and incorporate it into the preliminary design when possible. Not all comments can be included, as sometimes different interests are involved.

In the Gouwzeestraat, the design was adapted in response to feedback from the neighbourhood. Paula: “The municipality is turning the Gouwzeestraat into a dead end to make more room for greenery. This will make it busier in the Vrouwenzandstraat in particular. A lot of people weren’t happy about that. Especially since it will soon be a cycle street. That is why we have put a passage from Gouwzeestraat to Henri Dunantstraat in the last plan, so that you can also leave the district from this side.

Climate resistant

The streets are laid out in such a way that rainwater is collected and heat stress is avoided. For example, there will be a water storage facility under roads and parking lots. Edwin van Piggelen, technical manager, explains how it works: “All rainwater that falls on the road, car parks and cycle paths first ends up in the underground foundations. The foundation has 40% free space and ensures that water is not directly drained into the ditches. In addition, we are installing a drainage system in the neighborhood. It drains water during wet periods, but supplies water from ditches during dry periods. The contractor also takes into account the environment and nature during the works. For example, bins with trees have been placed alongside the works to ensure that bats can continue to orient themselves well.

Sustainable neighborhood

The Wheermolen-Oost project has a big ambition in terms of sustainability. Alicia Schoo: “We want to achieve the NL Greenlabel A. This means that in everything we do we ask ourselves: is this the most sustainable solution? We opt for a climate-proof neighborhood. We also ensure that the neighborhood is a place for many different plants and animals.

Plus, we make sure residents have a say in how their surroundings look. We help residents to organize something themselves, like a cooking club, the gift shop, a free sports activity for young people. And encourage owners to become more sustainable. Intermaris also contributes and renovates and makes more sustainable around 950 apartments in the district. Finally, the choice of materials is taken into account in any new construction and the construction is built in an inclusive manner.

Limit nuisance

The works are necessary and contribute to a more pleasant neighborhood, but they also cause a lot of nuisance. Paula de Groot: “We try to limit the nuisance caused by the works as much as possible. By thinking carefully about closures and diversions and informing the neighborhood. In addition, we do not forget the children of the neighborhood!’ Last Thursday, entrepreneur Markus bv visited the pupils of KCWheermolen primary school. They taught the kids all kinds of things about the project. What is a truck’s blind spot? How does a sewer system work and how strong should a bridge be? They also visited the work in front of the door.