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Life project Aerfit. Adaptation Extreme Rainfall

Fast High Volume Infiltration (FHVI) is a system that directly infiltrates rainwater into the water-discharging layers of the soil. The FHVI technique has been tested in Germany and in the Netherlands with good results, enabling its eligibility for EU grants from the EU LIFE programme. LIFE AERFIT objectives were to provide proof of effectiveness of the technique in the event of extreme rainfall (T10), widespread applicability, scalability and favourable costs compared to other techniques. Another main objective was distributing the results of the project to governments and professionals in the EU, for example via this website.

Climate change scenarios predict more extreme precipitation. This will rapidly result in flooding, especially in urban areas, as they do not have the ability to discharge large quantities of rainwater quickly. Using the technique of Fast High Volume Infiltration (FHVI), large quantities of rainwater can be infiltrated into the water-discharging soil layers within a short period of time. The system is relatively simple and does not occupy much space, enabling easy installation in urban areas. The technique is sustainable and is associated with fewer costs and less maintenance in the long term than other systems. The infiltration of rainwater also prevents the soil from drying out.

With financial help of Life  a pilot project was conducted in the municipality of Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. From 2019 till 2022, 150 FHVI infiltration wells were installed in Apeldoorn. These wells are monitored for two
years. The results are distributed among governments and professionals in the Netherlands and the EU with the objective of preventing flooding damage to urban areas in the EU through the application of FHVI.

The AERFIT project is was realised with funding from LIFE programme of the European Commission.

If you have any questions concerning this project, send and email to palsma@stowa.nl