Careful drainage is our priority

It has undoubtedly escaped no one's notice: our climate is changing in such a way that it is absolutely necessary to take measures. The large, prolonged droughts versus the enormous downpours causing enormous flooding require appropriate solutions in water drainage, water buffering and infiltration, among others. "But in a responsible way, with better products that have a purifying effect so that our surface and groundwater remains cleaner," says Willy Bruckers, commercial director of TBS-SVA Group.

He notes that there is a lot of focus on infiltration and buffering, but feels that the right products are not always offered in the marketplace. "There is almost no consideration for the pollution that people infiltrate," Bruckers says. "And that's exactly where we want to make a difference."

Climate adaptive products

TBS-SVA is developing a complete range of climate-adaptive products. "Because -if we keep doing it the way we're doing it today- these are going to be the sanitation sites of the future," Bruckers says. "Because it's bizarre how dirty our so-called 'clean' rainwater is after it falls on public infrastructure. And that water is often made into our final drinking water! With our innovative products, we want to prevent contaminated water from entering public spaces and ensure a safe now and a cleaner future."

Bruckers cites some examples of climate-adaptive products the company has developed.

Cyclone filter pit gully

"Our Cyclone filter pit gully is specially designed to keep pollution out of infiltration systems and keep surface and groundwater cleaner. Three traditional gullies -equipped with a coarse filter- can be connected to this gully. The water passes through the fine-meshed filter like a cyclone, with the clean water going to the clean water outlet thanks to centrifugal force, which can be connected to any infiltration facility, and the dirty water being discharged to the waste sewer."

Cool City Draining Gutter

"Furthermore, we developed the Cool City Draingoot. This is a new form of water buffering, drainage and/or infiltration that focuses on greening and cooling the downtown area." Bruckers explains that the product is easy to install, requires little maintenance and can withstand wheel loads thanks to its load-bearing grid construction. "But above all, it is a climate-neutral solution in inner-city areas: it is manageable greenery that can positively influence heat stress in an urbanized environment in addition to providing delayed discharge and/or infiltration of treated rainwater on site."

Mini Rain Garden

"One of the most recent developments is our Mini Rain Garden. A container made of reinforced concrete with plants in it, which can act not only as a traffic inhibitor, but also as a greener. The substrate underneath the plants has a purifying effect through the addition of carbon. The purified water passed through it can be drained through an infiltration pipe to a wadi or the like."

Cross-pollination

"We feel responsible and make caring drainage our priority," Bruckers said. "A fine mission, which, unfortunately, is sorely needed. Since the merger of TBS and SVA in 2020, there has already been plenty of cross-fertilization within the drainage market and we have been able to develop these kinds of beautiful innovative products. With the recent acquisition of IE Systems, another expertise has been added: the drainage market." IE Systems specializes in pioneering solutions to sewer problems, such as an air injection system for H2S control and its patented vent/drain tilt lids. "The company suits us, we are often with the same clients and this way we can even better combine our strengths and strengthen each other." With the combination of these three strong brands, the TBS-SVA Group ensures that their clients are offered the right and most appropriate solutions for a good drainage and sewerage system.