Versatile service provider guides and advises at De Poel pumping station

Dutch process innovators is a project and consulting firm active in construction and infrastructure, and has assisted Aannemingscombinatie De Poel from various disciplines in the design and realization of pumping station De Poel. Even a root vole did not upset them.

As a project and consulting firm, we are primarily active on the contractor's side, begins Max Wiercx, environmental manager at dutch process innovators. "We are broadly oriented and have held various positions in this project. For example, we have been involved in pumping station De Poel since the tender phase in 2019. It was up to us to supervise the tender process and write a plan of action for the tender. After awarding the contract, we filled in the environmental management from A to Z for the contracting consortium throughout the project." And furthermore, over a six-month period, dutch process innovators also organized the contract management. 

Operation mouse move 

Environmental management has been an increasingly important element in GWW in recent years, according to Wiercx. "Even at De Poel pumping station, it was included as a separate scope in the demand specification. We took that on completely, from arranging the permits and managing cables and pipes in the subsurface to all the communication around the project to the outside world and managing flora and fauna, among other things. At the beginning of the project here, we were dealing with a protected mouse species that ended up causing quite a delay. A new headland was even created a little further away for the housing of this root vole. The mice were then directed to the new piece of land. A requirement under the Nature Conservation Act. Only after the successful "operation to move the mice" could the contracting consortium start the construction of the new pumping station. And before the pile-driving work started, the area was inspected for breeding birds. For this, Dave Vonk was flown in as a certified ecologist, again crucial to the progress of the project."

BLVC procedure

To ensure the accessibility of the immediate area, dutch process innovators introduced the BLVC procedure with six-weekly consultations. "Actually a more urban terminology, but also perfectly usable here," Wiercx knows. "In this procedure, agreements were made about the Accessibility, Livability, Traffic Safety and Communication (BLVC) during the work. Once every six weeks we sat down with the BLVC partners, including delegates from the province, police, fire department, ambulance, bus company, the municipality of Waterland and a delegate from Marken's 'island council.' All in all, a fine and enthusiastic working group of concerned people. Such a BLVC procedure was important for the progress of the project, because the pumping station is being built at a rather unique location. The provincial road is not a very busy road, but it is the only access road to and from Marken. Through a special website, islanders were kept informed of the traffic measures, ranging from a complete (overnight) closure to temporary traffic stops during lifting operations with a delay of up to 7 minutes. A lot of work was also done with half lane closures, where traffic could drive alternately along the works."

As a young and innovative firm, we have a fresh perspective on the construction and infrastructure sector, says Wiercx. "That makes that we sometimes approach things differently than usual. What makes us different in the market is that we are an agency that makes a substantial contribution to projects from our own vision and ideas. In which we regularly come to new insights together with our client. And that is appreciated."