Reitdiep, Groningen

In the sustainable new-build neighborhood of Reitdiep, the City of Groningen in The Netherlands sought to implement an innovative and future-proof water sanitation concept for approximately 180 homes. The goal was to intelligently separate wastewater and utilize it locally, which aligns better with the neighborhood’s energy and environmental objectives and its ambitions for energy neutrality. This required an alternative to the traditional gravity sewer system and the standard drinking water and wastewater system.

To achieve this, Qua-vac supplied vacuum sewer systems and vacuum toilets.

For the collection and disposal of black water (toilet waste), a vacuum sewer system linked to vacuum toilets in the homes was chosen. This innovative system forms the core of the sanitation concept in Reitdiep and offers several concrete benefits for sustainable water system design.

The vacuum sewer network collects blackwater from the connected homes under vacuum pressure. This means:

• A closed and energy-efficient transport system for toilet water that performs well even in flat or difficult-to-drain areas, such as around the Reitdiep.
• The ability to lay pipes at shallower depths and limit infrastructure costs.
• The concentrated wastewater can be safely stored in a central tank and periodically transported for treatment, which supports integration with (bio)digestion and other treatment methods.

Vacuum toilets have been installed in the new-build homes, which are connected to the vacuum system:

• Significant reduction in flush water usage compared to traditional toilets, which directly contributes to lower drinking water consumption.
• Efficient conveyance of blackwater, which simplifies downstream processing.
• The flexibility to integrate modern, water- and energy-efficient sanitary systems into sustainable housing concepts.

In the Reitdiep development, the vacuum sewer system is fully integrated with homes equipped with vacuum toilets; the technical installation of the vacuum sewer network is being carried out by project partners, and Qua-vac is responsible for the connection points and infrastructure up to the individual lots.

The implementation of a vacuum sewer system with vacuum toilets in the Reitdiep neighborhood has yielded clear environmental and operational benefits:

• Efficient separation of blackwater and graywater, making the wastewater system easier to manage and keeping reuse options open.
• Lower drinking water consumption, thanks to water-efficient vacuum toilets.
• Infrastructure flexibility, with shallow installation and a closed network for better performance in wet or challenging soil conditions.
• Support for sustainability goals, as local wastewater management becomes a reality, and integration with treatment and reuse becomes easier over time.

The vacuum sanitation concept in Reitdiep thus serves as a model project in the Netherlands for sustainable sewerage technology in residential areas, where vacuum technology and modern sanitary connections together offer a robust, future-oriented solution.

Would you like to learn more about our vacuum solutions? Please contact our specialists!