Rosmalen investigates household water for 1,500 homes
A new-build project will determine whether treated surface water can be used safely and affordably for toilets, washing machines and gardens.
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In Rosmalen, an investigation is under way into whether a new neighbourhood can have a second water supply for household water. The project of more than 1,500 homes could save almost 40 per cent of drinking water, but the technical, financial and health requirements still need to be worked out.
Construction firm Heijmans, Brabant Water, the municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch, the province of Noord-Brabant and Waterschap Aa en Maas signed a declaration of intent on 9 September for a feasibility study. The parties are looking at a central system for the De Groote Wielen neighbourhood, whereby treated surface water would be conveyed to homes through a separate pipe.
The water is not intended for drinking. It could be used to flush toilets, water the garden and run the washing machine. In a new-build neighbourhood, installing a second pipe is technically simpler than in existing homes, where pipes and installations are often already fixed in place.
Brabant Water estimates that using household water could save almost 40 per cent of drinking-water consumption. At the same time, the organisation stresses that residents must be able to trust its quality and reliability of supply. Public health, technical requirements, permits, the availability of surface water and costs are therefore among the issues being investigated.
The pilot is part of a nationwide search for ways to make the drinking-water supply fit for the future. According to the Dutch government, people in the Netherlands use an average of about 118 litres of drinking water per person per day. The aim is to reduce that to no more than 100 litres. Households are responsible for about 74 per cent of drinking-water consumption.
Pressure is increasing because of population growth, economic development and dry summers. The Dutch government wants an additional 100 million cubic metres to be available annually by 2030. The Netherlands Court of Audit previously warned that, without additional savings, demand in 2030 could be 102 billion litres higher than in 2020. At the same time, the Court of Audit pointed out that measures to promote reuse have been in preparation for years.
Rosmalen is therefore more than a local experiment. If the system proves safe, affordable and manageable, it could become a model for other new-build areas. But a feasibility study is not yet a decision to build. The parties involved want to decide in 2027 whether the project will proceed. Until then, it has not been established who will pay for the additional infrastructure or who will be responsible for the quality of the household water.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Rosmalen is investigating a second water supply using treated surface water.
- The aim is to save drinking water in applications for which drinking-water quality is not necessary.
- Costs, safety and management have not yet been established.
Left
Arguments Drinking water is a basic public service; the government should invest in reuse and prevent scarcity from being placed primarily on households.
Values Collective responsibility, affordability and climate resilience.
Consequences Public investment can make new neighbourhoods more future-proof, but requires money and careful oversight.
Centre
Arguments Start with controlled pilots and set requirements for public health, costs and reliability of supply before making reuse compulsory.
Values Caution, feasibility and evidence-based policy.
Consequences A gradual approach limits risks, but may mean that savings only become visible slowly.
Right
Arguments Let builders, water companies and residents choose solutions that work technically and can pay for themselves, without a blanket obligation.
Values Freedom of choice, cost efficiency and limited regulation.
Consequences Greater market freedom may stimulate innovation, but could lead to less widespread use and unequal access.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The local pilot and the national drinking-water figures are based on official sources. The text clearly distinguishes between plans that have been established, objectives and feasibility that still needs to be investigated.
- confirmed Five parties signed a declaration of intent on 9 September 2026 for a feasibility study in Rosmalen. — Brabant Water names the parties and the date. source
- confirmed The project involves more than 1,500 homes. — This is stated in Brabant Water’s explanatory information. source
- confirmed According to Brabant Water, the system could save almost 40 per cent of drinking water. — Brabant Water presents this as an estimated saving. source
- confirmed People in the Netherlands use an average of about 118 litres of drinking water per person per day. — The Dutch government cites 118 litres and a target of 100 litres. source
- confirmed Households are responsible for about 74 per cent of drinking-water consumption. — This percentage appears in the national campaign information. source
- confirmed The parties want to decide in 2027 whether the project is feasible. — Brabant Water gives this timetable. source
Editor's note
The declaration of intent, the scale of the housing project and the planned feasibility study are certain. The savings percentage is an estimate by Brabant Water; construction, costs and definitive safety have not yet been established.Sources
- Wc doorspoelen met huishoudwater: kan dat in Rosmalen? — Brabant Water
- Landelijke campagne voor bewuster drinkwatergebruik — Rijksoverheid
- Drinkwater onder druk — Algemene Rekenkamer
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „drinkwater huishoudwater”
- Trouw — „drinkwater huishoudwater”
- RTL Nieuws — „drinkwater huishoudwater”