The city of Breda, a medium-sized city in the Netherlands, established a programme to become a climate-proof city. Keywords in this programme are liveability, awareness and robustness.
The main objective of the Robby the Rat programme is to raise awareness among current and future generations for sustainable water management, which is an important element when it comes to climate adaptation. We would like to get our citizens involved in maintaining and monitoring the system and create a situation of mutual benefit (a system that works well and a healthy environment). In this way, maintenance costs are minimised and there is a reduce risk of flooding and pollution.
Tracking a package with a track and trace system is currently the most common thing in the world. Tracking and tracing water in the sewerage system is not common at all. Yet it may be very useful to know where and how fast the water flows through this system. For example, in the case of an accidental hazardous discharge into the sewer, the detection of wrong connections, or for maintenance processes. That is why the city of Breda developed a new smart technology. This technology uses floating radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips and antennas that are connected to pick up the signal and forward the information in real time. The most important innovative feature is the combination of a new technology and the involvement of primary school children. In this way, the children explore and learn how the sewerage system works in a fun way. We heard stories from parents where their children told them to be careful with water usage and that it is a shame when people spill water.
The idea behind the Robby the Rat is similar to an ‘underground balloon competition’ and in this competition, children are asked to flush a small electronic chip (called a ‘Chippo’) down the toilet. The Chippos are detected by antennas that are set up in the sewerage system, thus following the progress in real time. Using this track and trace system, it is possible to detect and locate any incorrect sewer connections and failures in the water system. By involving children in the competition, they become more conscious of water usage by acting as young researchers in a fun way. The competition makes it easy to reach a large target group at relatively low cost, and increases awareness among our future generations.