Incentive scheme to disconnect stormwater

Water-ready

The municipality of Kerkrade is participating in the Waterklaar campaign. Waterklaar is a collaboration between the Parkstad municipalities. Climate change means we are increasingly having to deal with heavy rainfall. This causes more and more nuisance such as sewer overflows, streams that cannot process the water and flooded streets. Clean rainwater becomes polluted and unnecessarily burdens the Water Treatment Plant.

To deal with these problems, we need to act now. The Parkstad Waterklaar website has many tips for dealing with more frequent heavy precipitation.

Website Parkstad Water Ready

Rain pipe disconnection

Rainwater and other stormwater is clean water. It is unfortunate if this water enters the mixed sewer system through the downspout, requiring cleaning. If your home is connected to the public mixed sewer system, you can disconnect the downspout from the sewer system. The rainwater will then benefit your garden and groundwater. For disconnecting, you can apply for a subsidy through the incentive scheme 'disconnecting rainwater'.

Please note that you may only disconnect once your grant application has been approved. Work must then start within three months of grant approval and be completed within six months.

What you need to know

• If you live in a new construction home, your house is probably already disconnected from the sewer system and you probably cannot get a subsidy;
• Do you live in an area with a separate sewer system? If so, we will first examine whether rainwater is still connected to the wastewater sewer before processing an application;
• Do you live in a rental property? Check with the landlord first to see if you may disconnect;
• Do you share a downspout with your neighbors? If so, consult with them about your plans. You can submit an application together with your neighbors;
• To qualify for the grant, you may not disconnect until your application is approved;
• The amount of the subsidy depends on the method and extent of disconnection.