Turnhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Turnhout is cleaning the polluted Grote Caliebeek by building a wetland with reeds to filter chromium. This eco-friendly, low-cost project, led by Alderman Adriansens, also prevents flooding.
The Grote Caliebeek, a stream in Turnhout, Belgium, is being restored. The stream was contaminated with chromium from old tanneries in Oud-Turnhout. This contamination has been present in the stream for many years, making the water dangerous and harming the animals and plants.
How is Turnhout’s wetland cleaning water and preventing floods?
Turnhout is building a special wetland to clean the water. The wetland is like a big muddy area where reeds are planted. Officials mentioned that these reeds are good at taking out bad stuff from the water, like chromium. They also help tiny creatures in the mud break down the pollution.
According to Alderman Adriansen, this project is a good way to keep the water clean while also saving money. Turnhout is working to make the water healthy again and help the whole area become a better place for nature.
The new wetland in Turnhout is like a big swimming pond that cleans the water naturally. It will take a few years for all the bad stuff in the water to disappear, but the wetland will keep cleaning the stream for a long time.
Officials stated the wetland doesn’t just clean the water but also protects the region from floodings. It’s constructed below the stream’s level, the water trickles through by itself without even requiring any pump. This also helps keep the water levels steady. They said that when it rains a lot, the wetland can hold extra water, preventing the stream from overflowing and causing damage.
