Storing freshwater surplus in winter for use in the summer: it sounds easier than it is. Rainwater is ideal for watering due to the low salinity, but aboveground storage takes up a lot of valuable space. In an attempt to complement the available water, brackish or saline groundwater is often desalted through expensive reverse osmosis, or fresh water is brought in from elsewhere. Increasing freshwater shortages result in production losses for growers.
That is why the Dutch tomato growers of Prominent, recently opened a new demonstration project that showcases underground water storage.
Koen Zuurbier KWR demonstrates the water buffer
Underground water storage
The showcase water buffer is a unique demonstration of various techniques for local and regional underground water storage. One example is a system that stores excess rainwater through wells in the water-bearing sand layer, essentially creating a freshwater bubble in saline groundwater. The stored water can be used as irrigation water. This way, the injection and extraction of fresh water remains in balance, resulting in a robust fresh water supply, without the adverse effects of a salty waste stream (caused by reverse osmosis). The costs of desalination can be saved as well. This innovative way of freshwater storage can represent a major contribution to the prevention of freshwater shortages.
Showcase
Since 2012, tomato grower Prominent has been storing the rainwater collected from four growers underground. This process is now used as a showcase, where all the steps are explained with information signs. In a special reception area, other techniques are demonstrated as well.






Announcements
Job Offers
- Assistant Nursery Manager - Tasmania, Australia
- Tissue Culture Lab / Operations Manager - Victoria, Australia
- Irrigation Manager - Tasmania or Victoria
- Chief Executive Officer Hortifrut IG Berries
- Head of Operations - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Greenhouse grower / production manager - Brazil
- Experienced International Trade Specialist
- Packaging Supervisor
- Nursery Production Manager South Australia
- Advisor / Account manager horticulture Japan
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 -yesterday
- Artificial photosynthesis can produce food without sunshine
- Finnish lettuce greenhouse uses industry waste wood to heat the greenhouse
- CABY virus resurfaces in cucumber greenhouse: "Sometimes there was hardly any aphid to be found in the crop"
- New ToBRFV-resistant varieties presented for Mexico
- Zimbabwe: 'Take advantage of demand for organic crops'
Top 5 -last week
Top 5 -last month
- Russia's Gazprom cuts off natural-gas supply to the Netherlands
- New semi-closed greenhouse solution launched
- "Minimizing the work in the greenhouse is our main goal"
- Can the Dutch vegetable greenhouse chain bear the increasing costs?
- How a safari camp in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara is harvesting 200kg monthly
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2022-06-27 Genetia BioSciences receives Swiss delegation on stimulation Czech-Swiss cooperation
- 2022-06-24 21-year-old student establishes hydroponics business with only P1,000
- 2022-06-24 Finnish lettuce greenhouse uses industry waste wood to heat the greenhouse
- 2022-06-22 'Primavera, Victory and Inspire are a safe bet for strawberry growers in the Mediterranean'
- 2022-06-22 EIT Food partner ART21 announces over EUR 1 million of high-tech services to help rebuild Ukraine’s agrifood sector
- 2022-06-22 US (MA): Tomato dream comes true for Ken Foppema, who started farming almost 40 years ago
- 2022-06-22 China: Village official helps farmers escape poverty by growing fruits and vegetables
- 2022-06-22 Canadian grower plans 45-acre organic strawberry expansion
- 2022-06-22 "Finland is an interesting region with good opportunities for hybrid greenhouses"
- 2022-06-21 Ancient seeds found in southern Türkiye
- 2022-06-21 Greenhouse and Kitchen provide food and education in the fight for good nutrition
- 2022-06-21 Kenya: Farmers urged to grow alternative crops to protect environment
- 2022-06-21 Picking blueberries for a good cause
- 2022-06-20 Partners growing mushrooms in former shipping container
- 2022-06-20 "We used Plant Empowerment to boost our yields"
- 2022-06-20 California bell peppers shift growing regions
- 2022-06-16 Jordanian farm owner plants seeds of food sustainability using "Dutch bucket" system
- 2022-06-15 Philipinnes: Residents back Basilan 'hydrophonic' agri venture
- 2022-06-15 Greenhouse farming instills hope in Somali pastoralists facing drought
- 2022-06-15 IE: Horticulture support scheme closes for applications this week