Today, over half the world’s population lives in urban areas. And, according to the United Nations, that number will grow to two-thirds by 2050. Cities will have to adapt, in order to be safe and sustainable in the face of extreme weather and other climate hazards – like massive, intense rainfalls and severe droughts. Technologies and strategic partnerships will play a key role in transforming our cities by making them greener and more livable. Wavin, with its innovative solutions and commitment to building healthy, sustainable environments, is poised and ready to take on the challenge. And we are in good company. Sustainability pioneers, like Sacha Stolp, Director of Innovation for the Future-Proof Assets Program in Amsterdam, are leading the crusade. One neighborhood at a time. City by city.

In-depth product trainings for Wavin Indonesia’s distributors

On Thursday, 4 June, residents in a public housing complex Hong Kong were evacuated following a cluster of Covid-19 over several floors. In March 2003, a high-rise building complex, Amoy Gardens in Hong Kong, became one of the epicenters of a new Coronavirus. The complex ranged from 33 to 41 stories, with some 19,000 people. 329 occupants contracted the disease, 42 died. As part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Investigation, wastewater plumbing systems were discovered to be a major cause for the rapid of the virus throughout the building.

Wavin is known for thinking outside of the box. Typically Wavin’s Tegra manholes are used for waste-water transport. But when the seismic measuring station on the small island of Hopen (in Norway) needed to be renewed, the seismological equipment had to be protected from all weather conditions. After testing many possibilities, the Wavin Tegra 1000 became the chosen solution both for housing this specialized equipment and for keeping it safe and dry.

Tree roots growing inside sewer pipes are not an uncommon problem. They thrive on oxygen, so they will not grow in pipes that are filled with water. Rather, they will propagate in a warm, moist and nutrient-rich environment. The subsequent sewer damage can be quite staggering, not to mention costly. Wavin examines the causes and effects of tree root growth in sewage systems, and what we can do to prevent damage in our underground infrastructure. 

The recent rash of torrential rainstorms across western Europe and indeed around the world has cast a bright spotlight on the serious problem of intensified flooding events.There are actually many preventative steps that can be taken to ensure that we remain safe. Here are ten solid initiatives, just to get the conversation started.

We’ve crossed the seasonal threshold from spring into summer and urban areas throughout Europe are feeling the heat more than ever. The densely-populated urban landscape of asphalt, brick, metal and dark rooftops soaks up an enormous amount of energy from sunlight – reflecting even more light. This energy absorption leads to an “urban heat island” – where cities experience higher-than-normal heat temperatures, as compared to surrounding areas. Climate change will cause this heat island effect to intensify in the years and decades to come. Wavin is a serious influencer in the movement towards urban climate resilience and so we’ve put together some tips on how to reduce heat stress in cities and towns across the continent.