Water

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

The fresh water must be protected necessarily. Every Belgian consumes on average 120 liters of water a day (half of which in the bathroom), what is enormous when we know that 10 liters a day would be enough for covering our drinking water requirements.

Distribution of drinking water

In Brussels, 2 companies distribute water to the homes.

Vivaqua takes care of the 'production' of water (harnessing, purification and quality control). The IBDE (Intermunicipal Brussels of Distribution of Water) manages the network of sewers and purifies waste water in the south water-treatment plant of the Brussels Capital-Region.

The IBDE brings the water to the homes.

Rainwater (undrinkable water)

The usage of rainwater in domestic activities is an interesting alternative both for the fight against the wasting of drinking water, and as a means to decrease your expenses.

The installation of a system of recovery of rainwater requires the installation of a tank which collects the water coming from the roof.

This water can serve for spraying plants, washing cars, for cleaning grounds but also for feeding the flush of the toilet.

In case of strong rain, the tank will also decrease the quantity of water poured in the sewer.

To help you in the realization of this construction site, the City of Brussels grants you a bonus for the installation of a system of recovery of rainwater.

Advice

How can everyone act?

• Repair toilets and avoid flushes that keep on running. A leak of hardly a drop per second wastes approximately 10.000 liters of water a year.
• Do not pour water non-stop while doing the dishes or while brushing teeth
• Take a fast shower instead of a bath. A shower of 5 minutes consumes less than 38 liters of water, whereas a bath requires from 57 to 95 liters!
• Install an economic shower head or a reducer of flow. These showers are easy to install and consume until 60% less water.
• Choose a bucket of water to wash the car rather than a jet.

Links

• Vivaqua: www.vivaqua.be. In case of problem: 02 739 52 11.
• IBDE: www.ibde.be. Urgency (24 hours): 02 739 52 11.
• Brussels-environment: www.ibgebim.be. Section: 'Private individuals' - Subject 'water'.