Cable trays, infiltration, pipes, and trees. All in one system, is that possible?

An initial project has already been completed with gutters that provide answers to all the potential challenges that concern us in our LinkedIn posts:

Rainwater is actively buffered. If this buffer volume is insufficient and the inflow of rainwater continues, the channel is divided by a long wall. Excess rainwater overflows through this wall and ends up in the buffer infiltration zone. The sides of this zone are lined with porous paving stones, allowing excess rainwater to seep into the adjacent soil.

The chambers are always interconnected. This prevents water from quickly draining to lower areas on slopes, potentially causing flooding. In areas with minimal slope, such as the Netherlands, the chambers are connected at the bottom via smaller openings. This allows all the water to be managed collectively. Water can be added at multiple points along the collector, and water can be drawn off and reused at one (the lowest) or multiple points.

The rooms are to be assembled like a Lego set of blocks. Thanks to a round socket and a central keyway, irregular placement is impossible. This is important to ensure that the upper cover plates fit together evenly. They can then serve as a walking or cycling path, parking lane, or bus stop.

In addition to collecting rainwater for both reuse and buffer infiltration, the system also houses networks. For example, at the bottom are two water networks: one for drinking water and one for rainwater. Branches from the central network are created at each house, which then run from this collector to the house.

At each wall they are simply sealed using pressure seals around the relevant pipes.

At the top of the chambers are 20 cm high overflow openings. This space offers several very interesting options:

If the rainwater buffering is insufficient, it overflows into the long buffer infiltration zone. If this zone cannot infiltrate quickly into the subsurface, the water overflows into the next chamber, via the lower V-shaped chamber. This way, the rainwater is locally contained, while the hose simultaneously cuts through the terrain, searching for zones with better infiltration capacity and maximizing infiltration.

At the top, the 20 cm of free, continuous space also allows for the installation of utility cables. A galvanized ladder tray was installed for data cabling and one for electrical cables. The collector manager ensures the correct placement of the various cables: neatly next to each other and not intertwined. This contrasts with laying cables in open ground, which often overlaps and creates chaos. This leads to recurring excavation damage, which is prevented with this collector.

This can be clearly seen in the photo above where the transition back into open ground.

These chambers can also easily be used as underground tree growing areas. Two chambers are opened at the ends, forming a single shared chamber with a volume of 15 m³. The soil placed in this chamber reaches the end wall. The 20 cm of free space creates the air space. Thanks to the top cover plate, traffic does not compress the soil. At the same time, cables for both data and electricity can run freely.

Openings are provided in the cover plates where the trunks emerge. A plastic wall ensures that the topsoil can be filled up to the topsoil. This prevents the topsoil from sinking under the cover plates and maintains the continuous airflow. At the same time, this prevents pests from entering the underground collector via this route.

At the bottom of the double chamber are conduits through which the pipes of both water networks can pass freely. At the same time, there is also a connecting pipe that connects the buffered water volumes, allowing them to communicate freely with each other.

A pipe can also be inserted into the double chamber to carry excess rainwater from the street through a gully into the tree growing area (black pipe).

However, the gully features a salt trap that automatically closes if saltwater flows in as a result of spreading the salt to prevent ice formation. By disconnecting the salt trap via the salt valve, the saltwater then flows to the infiltration zone. This prevents salt crystals from forming in the soil of the underground tree growth site.

At the bottom of the double chamber are also large openings through which the tree roots can later penetrate the hard subsoil. This way, they also open up the subsoil and increase the infiltration capacity.

Cables to individual homes or amplifiers cross the collector room via crossbeams. This maintains order and space. If any work needs to be done in the collector, the openings can be easily sealed with a balloon, and the water can then be pumped to the next room. This creates a safe work zone within 10 minutes on average. Digging through all the underground pipe networks is a thing of the past.

Plate 204 Wire connection

Customised pressure seals ensure that no vermin can enter along the feed-through pipes to the collector.

If gas networks are to be installed in the collector, vents must be provided in the cover plates. Gas networks can leak, thus preventing underground gas accumulations.

Wastewater sewers cannot be accommodated in the collector, as these are often gravity-fed. The collector simply follows the road surface. The only option for wastewater networks is via pumped lines.

A shallow channel ensures that the supporting structure of the cover plates continues smoothly. At the same time, the 20 cm open space at the top remains free, allowing data and electrical networks to continue running. Water networks are connected below to ensure continued communication. Corner and T-shaped elements are available.