Delft Enterprises portfolio company MetroPolder has been acquired by Dutch multinational manufacturer Wavin. MetroPolder brings specific expertise and solutions for urban flood control, helping Wavin in its mission to close the water cycle in cities and future-proofing them. This announcement comes against the backdrop of increasingly extreme weather events and long periods of drought that have been pressuring the liveability of cities around the world.
Water storage on rooftops
Rainwater has been seen as waste, especially in urban areas. Until now cities are mostly designed to dispose of water as quickly as possible. However, globally cities are at risk of running out of water by 2050 due to the effects of climate change. This is why we need to close the waterloop.
Delft startup MetroPolder is a pioneer in the field of water storage on green flat roofs. The company has developed a technology to capture water on flat roofs and reuse it for cooling, irrigation and recycling. Friso Klapwijk, CEO of MetroPolder: “Wavin sees rainwater as a resource, not a problem. That’s where we found each other. We want to make cities future-proof, by applying smart water management. Think of reusing rainwater or for cooling cities to combat heat stress. We are pleased and proud to be part of the Wavin family from now on”.
Dynamic water storage
The blue-green roofs are equipped with a buffer system, an internet-connected valve and an online dashboard. The valves sensors and rain radars control the water level and discharge real-time. This smart connection enables dynamic water storage. A proven effective technology that has been implemented in projects in several locations worldwide, including the Netherlands, Guatemala, United States, France and the United Kingdom.
Maarten Roef, CEO of Wavin: “The green/blue roof solution of MetroPolder is a proven successful, international, application that puts Wavin as a company in an even better position to make cities more climate resilient. Supplemented with the knowledge and expertise of MetroPolder, we are convinced that we will succeed in getting more and more cities to look at the applications of water differently. Because the opportunities are plentiful”.
