Восстановление исторических водных сооружений Кюрасао поможет адаптироваться к изменению климата

WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s historic dams, rooien and other traditional waterworks could once again become an important part of the island’s infrastructure, this time as a tool to adapt to climate change. Restoring old water systems can help retain rainfall, replenish groundwater and reduce the risk of flooding during heavy downpours, according to researchers Kasper Theo Lendering and Dimitri Schreuder. The researchers reached their conclusions in a study of Hòfi Rooi Catootje, where the restoration of historic water infrastructure is demonstrating how techniques used on Curaçao for centuries could help address some of the island’s modern climate challenges. Traditional water systems were designed to capture rainfall and slow its movement through the landscape. Instead of allowing rainwater to rapidly run toward lower areas and eventually the sea, dams, reservoirs and natural waterways kept water in the landscape for longer periods. Over time, many of these structures fell into disuse or were overlooked as Willemstad and other parts of Curaçao became increasingly urbanized. According to the researchers, their original function has become particularly relevant again as Curaçao faces periods of drought and heat alongside episodes of increasingly intense rainfall. At Hòfi Rooi Catootje, several rooien converge within a heavily urbanized part of Willemstad. The historic network of dams and reservoirs remained in the area but was no longer functioning effectively. Restoration work has been underway since 2024 to bring old waterways and reservoirs back into use. The principle behind the project is relatively straightforward. Rather than moving rainfall out of the area as quickly as possible, water is temporarily retained. This gives it more time to infiltrate the soil and contribute to groundwater replenishment. At the same time, retaining water reduces the amount that rushes toward lower-lying areas during intense rainfall, potentially reducing peak runoff and the risk of local flooding. The researchers argue that this approach could address several climate-related problems simultaneously. Higher levels of moisture in the soil can help counter drought conditions and support vegetation. Maintaining more vegetation and green areas can, in turn, help reduce heat stress in developed areas. Slowing stormwater runoff could provide additional protection during extreme rainfall. The research also challenges the idea that Curaçao’s old dams, wells, reservoirs and rooien should be viewed exclusively as cultural heritage. Instead, the structures could once again become functioning components of Curaçao’s modern water infrastructure. That philosophy is central to the Awa pa Kòrsou project, which is restoring and studying historic water systems at Rooi Catootje and elsewhere on the island. The initiative seeks to increase the soil’s capacity to retain water while simultaneously preserving Curaçao’s historic landscape. Urban development, however, presents an additional challenge. Modern construction, roads and other paved surfaces can disrupt natural drainage patterns. They also reduce the amount of rainwater that can penetrate directly into the ground, causing larger volumes to flow rapidly elsewhere during heavy rainfall. Rooi Catootje has consequently developed into a bottleneck during severe rain events. Restoring the historic reservoirs alone will therefore not solve the problem. Water from surrounding areas must also be properly directed toward the restored system for it to function effectively. Among the options being considered is the relocation of several speed bumps on surrounding roads where they interfere with water flows. Discussions on such measures are taking place with the government. The findings from Lendering and Schreuder suggest that Curaçao may not have to look exclusively toward new engineering solutions as it prepares for a changing climate. Part of the answer may already be embedded in the island’s landscape. By combining restoration with modern water management, centuries-old Curaçao techniques for capturing rainfall could become practical tools for reducing drought, heat stress and flooding in the decades ahead.