dhvtimes 2010 1

2010 / 1

Dutch heritage in Nanjing

Managing Tagus river basin

Eco Cities Chinese cities break with planning traditions

info dhv kantoren

The South Korean city of Busan is threatened by flooding from the Nakdong River dur-ing the rainy season. Due to climate change and the silting up of channels, the current barrier no longer provides satisfactory protection. On behalf of the South Korean gov-ernment, DHV has designed a new barrier with moveable sluice gates. Drawing com-parisons with the Haringvliet Barrier in the Netherlands, the dam will double the river’s drainage capacity whilst protecting the city, agricultural land, and green areas.Over 20 years ago DHV was also involved in the construction of the present barrier, which consists of a fixed dam in one branch of the river and a movable dam in the oth-er. The new dam will replace the current fixed barrier and will be approx. 300 meters in length. The dam has five vertical sluice gates, of which the central one is 100 metres wide. A bridge will be built over the dam. Construction will begin this year and is sched-uled for completion in 2012. DHV is working closely with Samsung Engineering & Con-struction and Yooshin Engineering Corporation on the project.•info Wim Klomp | telephone +31 33 468 33 17 | e-mail [email protected]

on location South Korea

Movable dam conquers Nakdong River

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preface Bertrand van Ee, President Executive Board DHV Group 2 | 3 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

We regularly hear reports of serious flooding, yet we are also told that there is a wors-ening shortage of clean water. This seemingly paradoxical situation is by no means un-common. In the rapidly growing major cities of Asia, for example, the demand for drinking water competes with the interests of nature conservation and flood protec-tion. How can we ensure that a city has an adequate supply of drinking water, that waste water is recycled and reused to the greatest extent possible, and that the city remains protected against flooding? Cities which provide answers to these questions are now being built in China. They are known as ‘Eco Cities’. DHV is closely involved in their development, as you can read in this edition. The theme of ‘drought and flood’ is one which demands urgent attention in various regions of the world. In Indonesia, a country rich in water, there is a shortage of fresh water. In fact, the same can be said of some parts of the Netherlands. This raises a number of questions: how much water do we actually use, in other words what is our ‘water footprint’? How can we reduce that footprint to the greatest extent possible? It is crucial to create greater awareness of our water footprint and to find ways of man-aging our planet’s water resources in a more effective way. International cooperation will enable us to make significant progress in doing so. The DHV Group is actively in-volved in various water projects, all of which will help to create a more sustainable soci-ety. For example, we conduct Water Footprint assessments (see page 20) and we advise governments about how climate change will affect their countries (see page 20).An increasing number of public and private sector organizations, as well as private indi-viduals, are starting to realize how important it is to use our natural resources respon-sibly. DHV can help them to do so, and we can provide a good example. After all, that is in the interests of everyone in the world today and the generations yet to come.

Bertrand van EePresident of the Executive Board

contents

4 coverstory Chinese cities break with planning traditions.

7 news in brief New ring road Eindhoven. Water knows no borders.

8 on location Dutch heritage in Nanjing.

9 interview Lenie Dwarshuis - van de Beek. 10 on location Sanitation top priority for Indonesia. 11 dhv group news

15 on location Giant bathtub.

16 interview Mike Muller, commissioner of the South African National Planning Commission.

19 project How does it work?

20 news in brief Policy makers use climate scans. Water footprint’ measured.

21 interview Manuel Lacerda.

22 vision Dutch water management in danger.

23 colophon tips and service

Photo cover: Artist impression from the new Chinese Eco city Caofeidian.

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From drought to flood

coverstory Eco cities

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Together with business developer Tiffany Tsui, he is helping to plan the massive project. “Ex-isting Chinese cities were all developed accord-ing to the American model: on a large scale and with long, wide thoroughfares. Residents can’t get anywhere without a car. The result is high energy consumption and a great deal of pollution. The Caofeidian of the future will be much more compact, with metro and light rail lines and particular attention devoted to wind and solar energy.”

necessity is the mother of invention“It’s largely out of necessity that the Chinese government has chosen to develop Caofeidian using sustainable methods”, says Kevelam. “There’s simply little room for urban develop-ment in this densely populated part of China. All the existing agricultural land is needed >>

4 | 5 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

The Chinese economy is booming. Ever-expanding employment opportunities along the eastern seaboard are acting as a magnet to workers from the vast interior of the country. In order to provide housing for all these migrants, the Chinese government is expanding existing cities on a massive scale, or even building entirely new ones from the ground up. Amidst this flurry of construction activity, the ‘Eco City’ concept is gaining ground. The Chinese government is making extensive use of DHV’s expertise in order to break with the space consuming planning methods of the past.

living here. With several industrial parks and a massive port complex, the expanded city will serve as a new economic powerhouse for northern China. But this powerhouse will be-long to a new generation: compact, adapted to existing environmental conditions, low on en-ergy consumption and CO2 emissions, and with extensive facilities for collecting and re-using fresh water.

“By Chinese standards, this is a revolutionary approach”, says project leader Dick Kevelam.

The aim of the new concept is to realize a healthy urban environment, in balance with existing water and energy supplies and natu-ral resources. The provinces of Hebei and Tian-jin on the shores of the Bohai Sea in north-eastern China are setting the eco trend by expanding the cities of Cangzhou, Caofeidian and Tianjin.Massive mudflats lie off the coast at Caofeid-ian, a modest sized city on the shores of the Bohai Sea. It is hard to imagine that in just a few years’ time, one million Chinese will be

Chinese cities break with planning traditions

three eco cities in china DHV is closely involved in expansion pro-grams for three Chinese cities: Cangzhou, Caofeidian and Tianjin. In all cases, the key question is how to reconcile the ex-pansion with a shortage of fresh water, the risk of flooding and the aims of na-ture conservation. In its various projects, DHV works alongside renowned partners such as the Chinese planning institute Qinghua, the British consultancy Arup, the Dutch knowledge institute Alterra and the architects of Architecten Cie, an-other Dutch company.

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coverstory Eco cities

to feed a large population. This makes land reclamation from the Bohai Sea an attractive option. Fresh water shortages are also driving a more sustainable approach. In fact, an ad-equate supply of fresh water is essential for these urban development projects.”DHV’s plans are mainly concerned with collect-ing and retaining fresh rainwater. “In this part of China, most of the annual rainfall is concen-trated in a period of just two months”, says Kevelam. “In the past the excess water was discharged to sea as quickly as possible, which resulted in the land drying out and drinking water shortages during the remainder of the year. We proposed storing the water in the soil to be pumped up later, instead of letting it drain away. Wastewater must also be reused, so that all the existing water resources are uti-lized as efficiently as possible.”

Necessity is not the only factor driving the push for sustainable urban development. Envi-ronmental awareness is very much on the rise, says David Ji, Director of DHV China. “Sustain-able development is high on the national poli-cy agenda, and a great deal of attention is de-voted to new spatial planning methods. We really have no choice, given the current growth of the Chinese economy and population. In

this country, the Eco City concept is the only solution for accommodating such massive growth.”

nature driven designIn addition to Caofeidian, DHV is designing similar development projects in Cangzhou and Tianjin. Here, too, the main focus is on urban planning combined with maintaining the eco-logical balance and devising systems for rain-water collection. All three projects are based on the concept of ‘Nature Driven Design’, DHV’s vision for using natural processes to create sustainable water solutions. “Our plans are based on the existing natural environment, such as old river beds and laguna islands”, Kevelam explains. “Why build something new if you can make use of what nature provides? This approach saves a great deal of time, mon-ey and effort, and helps enhance the ecological value of the area being developed. For instan-ce, old and disused river beds are very suitable for water storage, and raised islands off the coast can be developed without destroying the laguna structure. It’s not very difficult to de-vise such plans, but you must have an eye for the possibilities offered by nature.”“Our great strength is that we can call on mul-tidisciplinary expertise to suggest solutions

“Sustainable development is high on the national policy agenda.”

Land reclamation from the Bohai Sea is an attractive option.

that individual specialists could never develop on their own”, Tiffany Tsui adds. “These quali-ties are very much appreciated by our Chinese clients.” Tiffany does put the Eco City concept into perspective, however. “It’s not a cure-all solution for the problems posed by growth. People shouldn’t expect miracles, as there is no single, easy solution for dealing with the issues of rapid urbanization. Every situation is different and poses different challenges. We tackle these in a practical, level headed man-ner. But we never lose sight of the underlying principle: finding a balance between ecologi-cal, economic, agricultural and urban interests. This is an approach which can be applied any-where in the world.” •info Dick Kevelam

telephone +31 33 468 33 53

e-mail [email protected]

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6 | 7 DHVtimes 2010 / 1news in brief Transportation news in brief Water

The new ring road serving the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven is finally complete. In early June transport minister Eurlings officially opened the widened motorway, which is expected to put an end to the daily traffic jams around the city. DHV’s traffic management ex-perts were involved in the project from start to finish, providing ad-vice to the Department of Public Works and Water Management, the Eindhoven City Region Authority, neighboring local authorities, and electronics giant Philips (which has established its High Tech Cam-pus on the outskirts of Eindhoven). During the preparation stage, DHV was commissioned by the City of Eindhoven to calculate the expected traffic flows and to advise on the design of the ring road and its connections to the city’s road net-work. As part of a regional-based collaboration project aimed at op-timizing accessibility, traffic circulation was improved through a range of measures including synchronized ‘green wave’ traffic lights and multi-lane roundabouts (‘turbo’ roundabouts), allowing the roads in question to serve as alternative traffic routes whilst the construction work was carried out. DHV also advised Philips High Tech Campus to ensure that traffic to and from the campus is able to reach the ring road via a dedicated feeder road. We also supported the regional traffic control center while the work was carried out, with the aim of enabling motorists to continue using the motorway whilst it was being widened. Finally, DHV served as project leader for a special website that allows road users to find out exactly where and when road works are being car-ried out in the region. •

info Martin Wouters

telephone +31 40 259 36 55


Cross border rivers are often difficult to manage due to the con-flicting interests of the countries through which they flow. This is why South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland signed the Interim Incomati Maputo Agreement (IIMA) in 2002, with the aim of sus-tainably managing the cross border basins of the Incomati and Maputo rivers. A Tripartite Permanent Technical Committee (TPTC) is coordinating preparations for the signing of the final treaty, which is expected to take place next year. DHV, SSI and SEED are supporting the Committee by coordinating ten international water projects, with financial support from the Dutch government.

The consortium of DHV, SSI and SEED is advising the three coun-tries on the development of a joint vision for sustainable manage-ment of the two river basins. It is also in charge of preparing and implementing ten water projects in the lead up to the signing of the definitive treaty in 2011. The projects cover such topics as infor-mation exchange, prevention of floods and drought, integrated water management, and water quality management. One key proj-ect concerns a study into the water requirements of Mozambique’s capital Maputo, which is located downstream of the two rivers. The study will determine how much water is required to meet the city’s needs, and how much can be used for agricultural and other pur-poses. Another project covers river basin disaster management and is aimed at jointly preventing and responding to disasters such as floods and severe pollution of river waters. •

info Jeroen Kool

telephone +31 33 468 25 74


Water knows no borders

Mozambique’s capital Maputo is located downstream of the Incomati and Maputo rivers.The new ring road serving the Dutch city of Eindhoven is finally complete. DHV’s traffic management experts were involved in the project.

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New ring road Eindhoven

The highest section of a replica of a Dutch windmill was completed recently in the Friendship Park in the Chinese city of Nan-jing. The windmill is a gift from the Dutch municipality of Eindhoven, in honor of the 20-year anniversary of the friendship be-tween the two cities. In addition to the wind-mill, replicas are also being constructed of a water mill, farm and chapel, the originals of which are in the Province of Noord Brabant.

DHV was commissioned by the Municipality of Eindhoven to create the designs for the four structures and to take care of the proj-ect management. All construction work is scheduled to be completed by September of this year. •info Hans van Ooijen | telephone +31 40 250 92 57


on location China

Dutch heritage in Nanjing

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8 | 9 DHVtimes 2010 / 1interview Lenie Dwarshuis - van de Beek

The province of Zuid Holland is about to experi-ence a world first in the field of hydraulic engi-neering. At the end of this year, construction will begin on the so called ‘Sand Motor’ project in the North Sea, near the coastal village of Ter Heijde. This is the first time that the force of the sea will be utilized to strengthen the coast (see inset). Member of the Provincial Executive Dwarshuis is very proud of the project. “It repre-sents a completely new and innovative ap-proach to tackling coastal reinforcement com-bined with coastal expansion. It has taken five years of talks, but I am glad that we have the vision and confidence to undertake such a ven-ture in the Netherlands once again. If the Sand Motor does what it is designed to do, it will prove to be a hugely attractive export product.”Water management and exporting this unique Dutch knowledge to other countries are two subjects that Dwarshuis takes a very close inter-est in. She has been actively promoting the Dutch province and the companies and knowl-edge institutes associated with it for years throughout the Chinese provinces of Hebei and Shanghai.“In 2003 we decided to strengthen our existing affiliation with Hebei Province, with a particular focus on water, environmental issues, and har-

bor development. This turned out to be very much in line with the requirements of the Chi-nese. They are looking for solutions to specific problems such as wet winters and extremely dry summers, and also require designs and plans for large new ports. Of course, the Port of Rotterdam is an excellent example of our skills in this field.”

coastal programZuid Holland also faces specific water problems which are being exacerbated by climate change. Due to the fact that most of the province lies below sea level, extensive coastal protection is of vital importance to its inhabitants. This is why the province is utilizing a coastal program to work towards a coast that is both safe and attractive. “Until now we have neglected the coast and, in many places, built to the very edge of the dunes”, says Dwarshuis. “Because of this, you could say that local residents have lost con-tact with the dunes and beaches to some ex-tent. We know that the sea is there, but we can-not really see it. As such, the area is no longer very attractive in terms of natural beauty and recreational opportunities. The coast must be-come our front garden once again, so to speak.”Zuid Holland also faces a growing shortage of

nature driven designThe Sand Motor is a prime example of ‘Nature Driven Design’, DHV’s vision for using natural processes to create sustainable water solutions. The Sand Motor project involves depositing a large quantity of sand in the sea along the coast. Wind, waves and tides will then spread the sand along the coast. This will result in long term safety and more room for flora, fauna and recre-ation. The Sand Motor is an initiative of the Province of Zuid Holland in col-laboration with DHV and the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Rehabilitation for coast of Zuid Holland province

freshwater for agriculture and industry. These sectors require huge supplies of water, but large volumes of river water – which act as a natural buffer against sea water seeping in – are being lost. “With regard to the short term, we want to keep freshwater levels as they are. In the long term, I don’t know if we will still be able to achieve this. Therefore we have to con-sider other methods of preventing seawater from intruding in these areas whilst maintain-ing sufficient levels of freshwater. With our technical expertise and skills, I am certain we will be able to find an effective solution to the problem.”•info Jasper Fiselier

telephone +31 33 468 22 12


The Holland Water Week will take place in Shanghai in June. At the expo, Dutch water experts will showcase their extensive knowledge in water management, water treatment and drinking water technology. The Dutch province of Zuid Holland is taking the lead in the event. Member of the Provincial Executive Lenie Dwarshuis – Van de Beek is the enthusiastic ambassador representing the Dutch water sector in China.

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Lenie Dwarshuis - Van de Beek.

on location Indonesia

Sanitation top priority for Indonesia

Just one percent of Indonesia’s 230 million in-habitants live in a home that is connected to the sewer system, and twenty percent have no access to a toilet. The Indonesian government wants to remedy this situation in 330 cities across the archipelago in five years’ time, thus taking a major step towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals.The improvement plans are based on a project method developed by DHV and its Indonesian partner PT MLD which has already been suc-cessfully implemented in twelve cities on a pilot basis. The method empowers local au-thorities to devise and implement their own program of improvements. Where necessary, a team of consultants provides advice to both local administrators and the national govern-ment on devising and executing the plans. “Until recently, sanitation wasn’t a top priority for Indonesia”, says project leader Jan Oomen. “In the local culture it was considered inappro-priate to discuss the, shall we say, ‘fecal as-pects’ of the issue. But that has all changed. Now politicians can actually win votes by sup-porting the introduction of proper sanitation. And that’s an excellent development.” •info Jan Oomen | telephone +31 33 468 25 22


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major barrier for south korea DHV is designing a major barrier in the Yongam River, South Korea. The winning design is a movable barrier 330 meters long that forms an extension of the existing dam. When high river discharges occur the structure will make it possible for the water to flow into the sea. The structure also provides protec-tion against high water coming from the sea. The existing dam cannot let water run off into the sea, resulting in frequent flooding in the lower courses of the river. The Yongam project is linked to the 4 Major Rivers program of the South Korean government. This program will revitalize the four principal rivers of the country and retain fresh water. The client is the Korean Rural Community Corpo-ration. DHV is cooperating with Korean company Hanyang and the Dutch firms KDb architects from Doetinchem and Bosch Rexroth from Boxtel. Construction is due to start this year. • info Wim Klomp

telephone +31 33 468 33 17


10 | 11 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

Artist impression of the new Yongam barrier.

cees veerman joins supervisory board Prof. C.P. Veerman has been ap-pointed as a member of the Su-pervisory Board of the DHV Group. Cees Veerman (61) is cur-rently Professor of Sustainable Rural Development in the Euro-pean Perspective at the universi-ties of Tilburg and Wageningen, and is CEO of the investment com-pany Bracamonte. He is also a su-pervisory director of Deltares and the Knowledge for Climate con-sortium. Prof. Veerman was previ-

ously Chairman of the Delta Com-mission 2008, responsible for the long term protection of the Dutch coast and hinterland. From 2002 to 2007, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. •info Suzette Schreuder

telephone +31 33 468 20 26


Prof. dr. C.P. Veerman.

water resources strategy

SSI in association with SSRM Con-sulting, Hlathi Development, Wa-ter Geosciences Consultants and Gabsie’s Business Solutions and subcontracted reputable experts are working on the Revision of the South African National Water Resources Strategy (NWRS). The NWRS is the official blueprint on which the government has based its water management approach for the protection, use, develop-ment, conservation, management and control of water resources in the country. The NWRS is de-signed to avert future water crises facing the country. SSI Water Sec-tor has remained a significant player providing innovative solu-

tions in water policy analysis, management, infrastructure and hydrology. •info Nicollete Mhlanga

telephone +27 11 798 60 00


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development plan for rajasthan

Alongside Kuiper Compagnons, Ecorys and Cushman & Wake-field, DHV forms part of the con-sortium which is developing a sustainable economic develop-ment plan for the Indian state of Rajasthan. This project, which in-volves staff at DHV offices in both the Netherlands and India itself, is part of a large-scale plan for a 1400 kilometer long invest-ment zone which includes the cities of Khushkhera, Bhiwadi and Neemrana. Over the next six months, the consortium partners are to produce an integrated master plan designed to create an attractive investment climate for both Indian and international companies. Special attention will be devoted to the conservation of agricultural areas and the devel-

opment of sustainable energy sources. The most important component, however, will be an effective management system for the region’s scarce water re-sources. Based on these objec-tives, the consortium is to design an entirely new urban region covering an area of some 40 to 50 square kilometers. It will be no-table for plentiful greenery, sus-tainable enterprise and extreme-ly low CO2 emissions. •info Frank Sutmuller

telephone +31 33 468 25 65

e-mail frank.sutmuller @dhv.com

mekong river: deeper and wider

DHV has begun work on a project which will improve the navigabil-ity of a 250-kilometer section of the Mekong river in Vietnam. The river itself is to be deepened and widened, while eighteen bridges are to be restored and a new lock built. Once the work is completed, the river will be fully navigable for vessels of up to 600 tons.DHV is working on this project in partnership with two local con-

tractors, one of which is to focus on the bridges (including two bridges of several hundred meters in length) while the other will be responsible for dredging. The commissioning client is PMU Wa-terways, the Vietnamese ministry of transport, public works and water management. The project, which is expected to be complet-ed in early 2014, is funded by the World Bank. •info Ben Reeskamp

telephone +31 33 468 33 67


dhv group appoints cfo

Mrs. Jaska M. de Bakker MBA (39) has been appointed to the Execu-tive Board of the DHV Group with effect from 1 June 2010. She be-comes its first Chief Financial Offi-cer. Jaska de Bakker joins DHV from the confectionery manufac-turer Leaf, formerly a division of CSM, where she began in 2003 as Director of Business Development and a member of the division management team. In 2005, she began to specialize in Finance and M&A. Prior to joining CSM, she

spent a number of years as a man-agement consultant with Arthur D. Little and The Boston Consulting Group. Mrs. De Bakker studied econometrics at the University of Amsterdam. Mrs. De Bakker’s background and experience add a new dimension to DHV, entirely in keeping with its ambitions in terms of client focus, improved profitability and sustainability. Her appointment also ensures

The Executive Board of the DHV Group, from left to right: Piet W. Besselink (Vice President), Jaska M. de Bakker (CFO) and Bertrand M. van Ee (President).

DHV has begun work on a project which will improve the navigability of a 250-kilometer section of the Mekong river in Vietnam.

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greater diversity at Executive Board level. The appointment of a Chief Financial Officer brings the Executive Board of the DHV Group to full strength. Its members are Bertrand M. van Ee (President), Piet W. Besselink (Vice President) and Jaska M. de Bakker (CFO). •info Suzette Schreuder

telephone +31 33 468 20 26


12 | 13 2010 / 1

The official opening of the ‘Peace of Nijmegen’ Room by the French Ambassador, H.E. Jean François Blarel, the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. Don Juan Prat y Coll, and the Mayor of Nijmegen, Thom de Graaf.

new room at art museum

The ‘Peace of Nijmegen’ room is a new exhibition space at the Het Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen. It was recently officially opened by the Mayor of Nijmegen, Mr. Thom de Graaf, and the French and Spanish ambassadors to the Netherlands. DHV was responsi-ble for the technical installation design, acoustic design and fire safety provisions, and for site management throughout the construction process. The new room forms an integral part of the existing museum, which meant that construction work had to be undertaken during regular open-ing hours. To meet the stringent interior climate control require-ments, an entirely new air treat-ment system was designed for both the new room and the planned future extensions on the lower ground floor. The system includes heat exchangers which will recycle residual heat from the cooling installation. •info René Jansen

telephone +31 70 336 74 00


Last month Hydroprojekt started with the modernization of navigation locks on the Oder River.

cargo terminal delhi airport

NACO is designer of the new Air Cargo Terminal at Indira Ghandi International Airport, Delhi, In-dia. The contract has been award-ed by Cargo Service Center, who in a joint venture with Delhi In-ternational Airport Ltd. is respon-sible for operating and develop-ing the new terminal. NACO cooperates with Dutch cargo con-sultancy partners LSCG and Dis-tricon. LSCG will provide advisory services with regard to systems & equipment specifications, while

Districon will concentrate on Car-go Village Planning. DHV India office will provide local assis-tance. info Joeri Aulman

telephone +31 70 344 64 50


Artist impression of the Air Cargo Terminal at Indira Ghandi International Airport.

CHOPAV site near the Czech-Aus-trian and Czech-Slovak border. CHOPAV is the Czech abbreviation for natural groundwater accumu-lation area. The 90 km2 CHOPAV site has high landscape values and consists of five sectors. The works in all five sectors focus on remediation of the ecological haz-ards left by previous oil and natu-ral gas excavation activities. The government supports the re-mediation by investing € 260 mil. within the next 15 years. Supervi-sion services for the next CHOPAV sectors are just being tendered. •info Ivo Stanek

telephone +420 545 425 231


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supervision of remediation works

Based on experience gained from previous projects in the Morava river basin area, the Czech govern-ment assigned DHV CZ to moni-tor and to supervise all remedia-tion works at the first sector of the

oder river locks

Last month Hydroprojekt started with the modernization of navi-gation locks on the Oder River on the section managed by the Re-gional Water Management Au-thority in Gliwice. The contract includes elaboration of technical documentation. The scope covers four navigation locks. •info Chris Engelsman

telephone +48 22 606 28 02


Nereda® technology has seen rapid development and refinement in recent years, with pilot plants like Gansbaai in South Africa.

fiftieth scan for business premises

The report of DHV’s fiftieth quali-ty scan for business premises was recently presented to Loek Her-mans, president of MKB Neder-land, the organization which rep-resents small and medium-sized enterprises in the Netherlands. “Scans like this help us to halt the degeneration of existing com-mercial and industrial sites,” commented Hermans. “They are a very effective way of ascertaining the precise condition of a site.” Mr. Hermans went on to state that the revitalization of existing busi-ness premises is just as important

to the small business sector as the creation of new facilities, or per-haps even more so. The Quality Scan for Business Premises is based on an assessment of the site’s facilities and potential. The system is comparable to that used to rate hotels, whereby a site can be awarded up to five stars. The rating is a good indication of the quality and potential of the loca-tion and what businesses can and should expect. Over the past three years, DHV has rated many busi-ness locations in this way, most in the provinces of Overijssel, Noord-Brabant and Limburg. In 2009, the DHV system was adopted by the Stichting Keurmerk Bedrijventer-reinen, a semi-governmental or-ganization which is to standardize

and oversee the quality assess-ment of business premises. •info Herman Timmermans

telephone +31 33 468 27 20


Loek Hermans (left) receives the results of DHV’s fiftieth Quality Scan for Business Premises from DHV consultant Herman Timmermans (right).

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coatings factory in nine months

International coatings producer Hempel opened a new manufac-turing facility in Buk, Poland. The project was completed in just nine months. Jakon was the main con-tractor, with DHV Polska as lead-ing consultant. The factory com-plies fully with all EU legislation regarding health, safety and the environment. There are a number of systems in place to keep the working environment healthy for employees, including a ventilation system that ensures the building is supplied with fresh air. The fac-tory will also have minimal im-pact on the environment. It pro-duces no industrial waste water, and releases very few air emis-sions. •info Zuzanna Sulkowska

telephone +48 22 606 28 22


nereda® plant for epe

DHV has entered into a contract with the Veluwe Water Manage-ment Authority which covers the replacement of the existing waste-water treatment plant in Epe with one which relies on Nereda® tech-nology. Veluwe therefore becomes the first water authority to apply this innovative and sustainable technology at full scale. The new plant in Epe is expected to become operational in mid-2011. Nereda® technology has seen rapid devel-opment and refinement in recent years, with pilot plants and dem-onstration projects in South Africa, Portugal. The technology offers an exceptionally sustainable solu-tion. The strength of the Nereda® system is that the organisms which purify the water are in the form of compact, concentrated pel-lets rather than the floccules found in conventional installations. This greatly reduces the space require-ment and the consumption of both energy and chemicals. •info Vincent Weijermars

telephone +31 33 468 37 75


The Volkerak and Zoommeer lakes are located in the Rhine Meuse Scheldt delta in the south west of the Netherlands. In effect, they act as a giant bathtub, collecting any excess river water that fails to drain into the North Sea due to heavy storms. This type of situation is occurring more and more frequently as a result of climate change. DHV has calculated whether the various dikes, dams and barriers will be able to contain such massive volumes of water, and what the effects are on the environment. Further-more, all necessary dike improvements have been inventoried. The ‘Room for the River’ project agency has now asked DHV to design the proposed up-grades, conduct an environmental impact assess-ment, apply for the necessary permits, and draw up a so called National Integration Plan. The Volkerak and Zoommeer lakes must be able to withstand even the severest storms by 2015. •info Martijn Karelse | telephone +31 33 468 33 94


on location The Netherlands 14 | 15 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

Giant bathtub

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interview Mike Muller

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Mike Muller, commissioner of the South African National Planning Commission:

“Water security is a key focus area for the NPC”

Last April South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma appointed 25 experts to form the first National Planning Commission (NPC). Its task is drafting a long-term national development plan for the country. Water expert Mike Muller is one of the Commissioners. For the next five years he will give his advice on important issues like water security, energy and health, critical factors in South Africa’s development.

What is the National Planning Commission and why is it important for South Africa? The NPC is a new institution established to develop a na-tional vision and long term strategic plan for the country’s development. It will also produce evidence-based inputs into the policy process on broad cross-cutting issues that have long term implications for our development. Its first output will be Vision 2025 and a long term strategic plan. The Vision 2025 will be an articulation of the type of society all South Africans would want to see in about 15 years time. It will set out the high level aspirations for the nation in terms of social, economic and political develop-ment. The long term strategic plan will be the plan to achieve that vision. It will attempt to define the path to achieve the particular objectives set out in the vision, defining the is-

sues, weighing the trade-offs and putting together a coher-ent plan to achieve our long term aspirations.

What will be your task in the Planning Commission?The Commission has only just been established and no spe-cific tasks have yet been assigned to Commissioners. How-ever, we are part-timers and our main role will be advisory. Key issues that have already been identified include food security, water security, energy choices, economic develop-ment, poverty and inequality, structure of the economy, hu-man resource development, social cohesion, health, defence capabilities and scientific progress. There is also provision for Commissioners to lead investigations into critical long term trends, with technical support from a Secretariat and in partnership with relevant other parties.

What are the main water challenges South Africa is facing in the 21st century?South Africa is moving to a situation in which the majority of its water resources are fully used and those that are not are economically difficult to exploit. So the challenge is >>

mike muller Mike Muller is an engineer who has worked in water and development for over 30 years. Since 2006, he has been a visiting Adjunct Professor at the Wits Univer-sity Graduate School of Public and Development Man-agement in Johannesburg. He recently co-chaired the UN Water World Water Assessment Programme and he is a member of the Global Water Partnership’s (GWP) Technical Advisory Committee.Between 1997 and 2005 he was Director General of the South African Department of Water Affairs and For-estry. From 1979 to 1988, he worked for the Mozambi-can government managing water programmes.

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NPCThe National Planning Commission of South Africa is a government agency responsible for strategic plan-ning for the country. The NPC is tasked with produc-ing reports on issues such as climate change, water security, food security, energy security, infrastructure planning, human resource development, defence and security matters, the structure of the economy, spatial planning and demographic trends. The members of the commission represent different areas of expertise and reflected a diversity of experiences and perspec-tives,

interview Mike Muller

to live within our means even as the economy of the coun-try grows and peoples’ quality of life improves.

What should be done to solve South Africa's main water problems?The general recommendation in situations such as South Africa’s is to intensify water resource management. That is not just a technical matter. It must be done in a way that ensures that all those concerned, from householders and farmers to mining companies and municipal managers as well as politicians, understand the limits that water avail-ability places on the society. Allied with that, it is important to protect the quality of the limited water that is available. We cannot afford to pollute a resource that can’t be re-placed and that others depend on. For these reasons, it is encouraging that water security has been identified as a key focus area for the NPC.

Can South Africa solve the water problems by itself?As a matter of practical necessity, South Africa has histori-cally been an international leader in water resource man-agement and has established institutions such as the Wa-ter Research Commission to maintain this. The fact that supplies are reasonably assured and that investments have generally been made at the right time to avert shortages is testimony to that. However, it will be challenging to meet the new demands that are being placed on the resource although in many cases the challenges are more of opera-tional management than of new knowledge.

What can other countries do in facing the future?In today’s world, knowledge and expertise flow from one country to another and both sides usually benefit. South

Africa benefited greatly from international experience when we were developing our water policies. Subsequently, many countries have drawn inspiration from the products, notably South Africa’s approach to addressing basic human needs and environmental protection. There is also recogni-tion of significant operational achievements such as our major inter-basin transfers and pioneering work on land management to control the impact of afforestation and alien vegetation on water availability. I am sure that these exchanges will continue. •info Robin Hayes

telephone +27 11 798 6000


“We cannot afford to pollute a resource that can’t be replaced and that others depend on.”

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magnesium salt

treated wastewater with low nitrogen and phosphorus levels

sustainable phosphorus

ammoniaexcess heat

renewable energy

recycle MgHPO4 for Nitrogen uptake

dry crystals

circulation

rejection water with high nitrogen and phosphorus levels

decomposition reactor

fuel cell

wastewater treated wastewater

fluidized bed reactor

project How does it work? 18 | 19 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

Wastewater is source of food and energy

DHV has won the ‘Vernufteling’ award for 2010 with its idea to filter phosphate and ammonia from wastewater and to generate green ener-gy. The Vernufteling is awarded to the most innovative and appealing project in the field of engineering in the Netherlands. The concept fits in seamlessly with existing wastewater treatment processes and can therefore be implemented on a large scale. In addition to providing cleaner water, the new idea saves energy, prevents CO2 emissions and recovers phosphate from the waste stream. Further-more, this new process is considerably more cost-effective than the method of nitrogen removal currently employed in wastewater

treatment facilities. The innovation has been developed in collaboration with several part-ners and co submitters, including Hunze & Aa’s Water Control Board, the Dutch Foundation for Applied Water Research (STOWA), Delft Univer-sity of Technology, consultancy firm HITC, knowledge center LeAF, Noorderzijlvest Water Control Board, and magnesium producer Ned-mag Industries.

the processWater in a wastewater treatment facility is rich in nitrogen and phosphate. By slightly in-creasing the pH value in the water and adding magnesium to it in a fluid bed crystallizer, this

creates pure MgHP04 crystals. These crystals are separated into phosphate and ammonia in a decomposition reactor. The phosphate can then be reused in the phosphate processing industry, either as an environmentally friendly alternative to mined phosphate ore or as a fer-tilizer. The ammonia is highly pure and ex-tremely suitable for generating green electric-ity by means of a fuel cell. The purified wastewater flows back into the wastewater treatment facility.

info Peter Luimes

telephone +31 33 468 22 87


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news in brief Environment news in brief Environment

‘Foresight is the essence of government’ is a well known Dutch ex-pression. Climate change has made this long standing adage more relevant than ever. After all, is it even sensible to invest in a new resi-dential district or nature reserve when we don’t know if the area will be able to withstand prolonged periods of drought? What about the danger of flooding due to heavy rainfall? And what measures should we take now in order to protect existing residential areas in the fu-ture?

To help Dutch policymakers take the right decisions in these matters, DHV has introduced the ‘climate scan’ tool, which is based on de-tailed climate scenarios incorporating the most likely long term changes in weather patterns. The tool was developed in collabora-tion with Dutch research institute Alterra and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. All Dutch provinces are now using climate scans to substantiate key spatial planning decisions.

The results of all these climate scans have been compiled and made available in the form of an interactive website known as the ‘Climate Impact Atlas’. The website contains spatial information about the effects of climate change and is continually updated with the latest information, making it the leading source of practical, scientific background information in the field.

The Atlas can be found at http://klimaateffectatlas.wur.nl (Dutch only). •

info Monique de Groot

telephone +31 570 63 93 48


It may not be something you think about every day, but did you know that it takes 15,500 liters of water to produce a kilo of beef? It takes 70 liters of water to grow just one apple, and 40 liters to produce a single slice of white bread. The production of a cotton shirt requires 2,700 liters of water.

The quantities of water that we all use – our so called ‘water foot-prints’ – are huge, while water itself is becoming ever scarcer. What impact does production have on the environment and on society? Furthermore, how can we ensure that food, clothing and other es-sentials are produced in a more efficient and sustainable manner? DHV is conducting Water Footprint Assessments in order to find answers to these questions. The assessments show how many li-ters of water are used in the production process, as well as the long term impact of these activities on the environment. They also indi-cate what can be done to make a positive contribution to the envi-ronment and the production process.

An international producer of foodstuffs recently commissioned DHV to analyze the water footprint of two of its products. Among other purposes, the results will be used to further develop an inter-national standard for assessing water footprints. •

info Maarten Verkerk

telephone +31 33 468 34 69


Water footprintmeasured

The production of cotton requires many liters of water.Will the area be able to withstand prolonged periods of drought?

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Policy makers use climate scans

interview Manuel Lacerda 20 | 21 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

As a public institute, ARH is responsible for protecting and managing the water resources in the Tagus area since October 2008. Mr. Lacerda is the first chairman of ARH: “We have a team of over a hundred people manag-ing the river. Additionally, external parties such as DHV SA are contracted for specific tasks, including preparation of river basin manage-ment plans and the development of plans for the estuary and the coastal areas. We have also established partnerships with various municipalities and other public and private organisations as a means of increasing the efficiency of water resources management. As the river is shared with Spain, both coun-tries are working closely together in order to protect this water resource and all its ecosys-tems.”

The Tagus River is 1,038 kilometres long, a body of water blessed with ecological diversity and which traces its route through some truly re-markable landscapes. It is a habitat for many species, as well as being a sanctuary for migra-tory birds. There are two large natural reserves in the Tagus river basin: the Natural Reserve of Tagus Estuary and the Natural Park of Interna-

tional Tagus. The Tagus’s estuary is one of the Europe’s biggest and it is an important port area. As such, the estuary represents a major hub for the transportation of goods and peo-ple.

Lacerda: “Our biggest concerns are pollution, siltation of major sections of the river, the res-toration of extensive sections of dikes, and flood control. To tackle these problems, we have to fully implement the water resources policies, such as reviewing the current dis-charge permits for waste water. Dredging may also prove necessary to control the problem of silting and to promote the development of several navigation-related activities.”

A major instrument for protecting and manag-ing the Tagus River system is the river basin management plan. It highlights the main is-sues regarding the Tagus River ecosystem and the measures to be implemented in order to protect and valorise it. The plans are drawn up under the European Union Water Framework Directive. DHV SA has been assigned to de-velop the plan for the Tagus River Basin.“New river basin management plans will set

water framework directiveProtecting the quality of Europe’s water re-sources is a high priority for the EU. The Water Framework Directive establishes a legal framework to protect and restore clean water across Europe and ensure its long-term and sustainable use. The direc-tive establishes an innovative approach to water management based on river basins, and sets specific deadlines for Member States to achieve ambitious environmental objectives for aquatic ecosystems. In order to comply with the EU directive, the Tagus River Basin District Administration com-missioned DHV SA to carry out extensive river basin management studies on the Tagus River. DHV SA is also responsible for a basin study on the other major Portuguese river, the Douro.

Managing Tagus river basin

the objectives to be achieved in each water body, including environmental quality stan-dards and criteria for allocating water resourc-es among various users. Such plans also define the measures necessary for achieving these objectives. Our approach will comprise the development of tools to support management and decision-making, which will be tested in a number of selected sub-basins”, says Mr Lacerda. •info Joao Almeida

telephone +351 21 412 74 18


The Tagus River (Portuguese: Tejo) is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, it is a river basin which encompasses almost one third of the population, major agricultural areas, and several industries. Dozens of hydroelectric dams can also be found in the Tagus river basin. Manuel Lacerda, chairman of ARH do Tejo (Tagus River Basin District Administration), tells DHV Times about the river and the measures that need to be taken in order to protect the river from pollution and flooding.

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Manuel Lacerda.

vision Jos Peters, DHV

But Marsman’s Holland seems to be adrift on the seas of political change. With the nation’s financial reserves at an alarmingly low level, cuts in public spending are the order of the day. The intermediate tiers of government, such as provincial authorities and water con-trol boards, have not escaped the present ma-nia for economizing. Can we do things more efficiently and effectively? In some policy pro-posals, provincial authorities and the typically Dutch institution of water control boards are to be phased out, and their responsibilities transferred to the national government and lo-cal authorities. At the moment, all these par-ties are still conducting a joint public informa-tion campaign under the slogan ‘The Netherlands Lives with Water’. But for how long? And what is one to think of all these de-velopments?

In olden times, water management was a task of local government. However, local authori-ties (or the medieval equivalent thereof) soon realized that working with water is a real pro-fession requiring specific expertise. Over time, polder district authorities and water control boards developed into a distinct and indepen-dent tier of government. They were respon-sible for managing the ‘visible water’ we see

all around us in canals, lakes, rivers, polders and the like. Thus was established the vener-able tradition of ‘water control boards’. Now, more than seven centuries later, these boards are also responsible for the waste portion of the water cycle, i.e. the ‘invisible’ water in sew-ers and pipes beneath our feet. It was only rel-atively recently that these tasks were assigned to the water control boards and they could be performed much more efficiently, so concluded a recent ‘fact finding’ report which unfortu-nately failed to address the more systemic as-pects of water management.

Water control boards have left indelible marks on the Dutch landscape and have contributed greatly to spatial quality in our country. The boards enjoy broad legitimacy and are in an excellent position to place water issues high on the spatial planning agenda. Thanks to a separate tax regime, the necessary funding is relatively secure and the same applies to the required focus on water safety. In that sense, I believe that Dutch water control boards can serve as an excellent model for water manage-ment elsewhere on our warming planet, where this most precious resource plays a key role in an array of serious problems ranging from riv-er floods to rising sea levels. In this way, water

‘Thinking of Holland / I see wide flowing rivers / slowly traversing / infinite plains’. What citizen of the Netherlands isn’t familiar with this, the first stanza of Hendrik Marsman’s famous poem Memory of Holland? After all, it was only a decade ago that Memory of Holland was selected as ‘Dutch Poem of the Century’.

Dutch water management in danger

curriculum vitaeJos Peters is Leading Professional for stra-tegic water issues at DHV. Jos advises par-ties in the water sector on a range of top-ics including closer collaboration, integrated water management, and secur-ing drinking water sources.

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control boards also support the export and marketing of a quintessentially Dutch area of expertise and skill.

Why endanger the continued existence of ven-erable institutions that have proven their worth? Aren’t we throwing away a great many valuable things? Our tradition, our heritage, and centuries of experience gained in a coun-try that has always had to contend with the forces of sea and river? Granted, realizing fur-ther economies of scale is important. The same goes for a more efficient and professional ap-proach to the tasks at hand. But what is one to think of flip flopping politicians willing to throw out the baby – i.e. the tradition of water control boards – with the bathwater? No good will come of such plans. The ‘infinite plains’ of Marsman’s poem will sleep a great deal easier if water management is left in the hands of people who know their trade. Only then can we ensure that, in the words of the poet, ‘the voice of the water / with its endless disasters / is feared and obeyed’. •info Jos Peter

telephone +31 33 468 24 93


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tips and service 22 | 23 DHVtimes 2010 / 1

new dhv websites The DHV Group has given its website a substantial over-haul. The new websites www.dhvgroup.com and www.dhv.nl (Dutch) are more modern, more attractive and more user friendly. Surf dhvgroup.com and visit the four Group brands: DHV, Delcan, SSI, and NACO. Here you can also find Group-wide information on all our services, domains of expertise and markets. The website www.dhv.nl has the same lay-out but only contain information relating to DHV in the Netherlands. •

international confe-rence: deltas in times of climate change The ‘Deltas in Times of Climate Change’ confer-ence focuses on the latest scientific insights into issues such as flood protection, salinization and governance. Panels of experts from the po-litical and private sectors will discuss the pos-sibility of international cooperation and financ-ing mechanisms for adaptation. The conference will take place in Rotterdam from 29 September until 2 October. Various DHV staff members will contribute to the conference. Prof. Cees Veer-man, member of the Supervisory Board of the DHV Group, will close the conference. See also: www.climateconference.org. •

expo 2010 shanghai china Shanghai will be the home of Expo 2010 until 31 October. The theme of the exposition is ‘Better City, Better Life’. The theme represents a wish fostered by the whole of hu-manity, namely a future in which better living conditions in urban areas are the norm. More than 180 countries are taking part in the World Expo. While the majority has their own pavilion, some countries and organizations (including the European Union) are accommodated in a regional pa-vilion. There are also five so-called ‘theme pavilions’ which focus on various aspects of urbanization. More than 70 mil-lion visitors are expected to visit the World Expo. See also: www.expo2010.cn. •

colophonThe DHV Group is a global provi-der of consulting and engineering services in the markets Transpor-tation (including airports), Water, Building and Industry, Spatial planning and Environment. We meet our clients’ needs by operating on the principle of Local delivery of world-class solu-tions: the Group’s leading exper-tise is made available to clients through an integrated network of offices in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Our network of businesses and alliances is driven by our shared mission, values, and projects, all directed at creating innovative concepts and solutions for the sustainable development of our living environment

DHVTimes is published twice a year and is available free of charge. To subscribe, please contact the editor. Meet us at www.dhvgroup.com/dhvtimes or call +31 33 468 20 15.

editorial boardMachteld Blokhuis, Mariken Broekhoven, Andrea Conrad, Robin Hayes, Cheryl-Marie Hansberger, Tim Jeanné, Anke Mastenbroek, Anneke ter Mors, Gea Peek, M.S. Prakash (India), Andreia Reis (Portugal), Mirjam Soeterbroek, André Verberne.

editorial teamMirjam Soeterbroek (editor in chief), Peter Vlugt (editor),Suzanne van der Werf (project leader).P.O. Box 1132, 3800 BC Amersfoort, tel +31 33 468 20 15,e-mail [email protected] publications may use articles with prior permissionand acknowledgement of DHV-Times as the source.

translationDBF, Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

lay-outDHV, Shared Service Center Communications, Bert van Rootselaar.

printDrukkerij Van Amerongen, Amersfoort.

dhv cr annual report Each year, DHV Group publishes an extensive report of its activities in the field of corporate social responsibility and its efforts to enhance sustainability. Read the report and see the ways in which DHV addresses the interests of ‘People, Planet and Profit’ by downloading it from www.dhvgroup.com. •

Advies- en ingenieursbureau

Verantwoord OndernemenSamenvatting 2009

Altijd een oplossing verder

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dhvgroup.com Gateway to solutions

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