Houses with wet feet: groundwater nuisance and its abatement in the Netherlands

The reasons for a shallow urban water table, the problems it causes and possible remedies are discussed. Adverse soil conditions, the wet climate and insufficient drainage of roof and surface waters contributed to the phenomenon which resulted in smells, fungal growth and threats to human health. New buildings without basements and crawlspaces would not suffer these problems. For roads and open spaces, better drainage and porous landfills would improve the situation. High groundwater was sometimes caused by leaking water mains, the cessation of groundwater abstractions, high local river levels and the percolation of surface water. Responsibility for urban drainage, currently unclear, would probably be given to municipal authorities if the recommendations of a recent report were accepted. When the administrative difficulties had been solved, the remaining problems would be inadequate hydrological models, lack of data, insufficient experience, inadequate funding and the optimization of sewer use.