Aalst (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): The new Aalst weir, managed by Geert Weymeis of Flemish Waterway, regulates Dender River levels, balancing drought and flooding. It will be tested for autonomous operation next week.
The new weir in Aalst is important for controlling the water levels of the Dender River between Teralfene and Aalst. Geert Weymeis from the Flemish Waterway explains that this structure helps manage the river’s height. In dry periods, the weir keeps water to ensure there’s enough flow and to prevent droughts. During heavy rainfall, it helps drain excess water to avoid flooding.
How will the new Aalst weir improve water management amid climate change?
The weir helps maintain a balance between holding onto water and draining it, which benefits the local environment and communities by improving water management throughout the year. This project is part of larger efforts to adjust water systems to changing climate conditions, which can lead to both serious droughts and more rain.
Next week, the dam will be tested to see if it can work independently for a few days. This test will check if the dam can control water levels without any help from people. It will use sensors and control systems to keep the water flow steady and respond to rain or water usage. This follows some smaller tests and aims to ensure the dam can manage water well over a longer time. During the test, information will be collected to see how well the automated systems are functioning. If the test is successful, it could lead to better-automated controls in the future, improving water management and reducing the need for manual adjustments.
If everything goes well, the test will be a success. Weymeis says that the lock gates and flap bellows weirs now work with air pressure, which helps the valve move to the right spot accurately. This is much better than the old way, where everything was done by hand. It can also be controlled from a distance now. The new lock complex in Aalst is part of a plan to update the locks on the Dender River, replacing old locks with new automated ones. The Teralfene lock will be removed. The Flemish Waterway has permission to build new locks in Geraardsbergen and Denderleeuw, but work can’t start yet because of some legal issues.
