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Smart water management arms natural grass pitches against extreme weather
The transition from artificial turf to natural grass today means far more for football clubs than simply installing a new playing surface. It requires a completely different approach to maintenance, water management and playability. That is why Excelsior Rotterdam deliberately chose innovation. Together with DrainTalent, the club is building a future-proof pitch system designed to better withstand extreme weather conditions while continuously monitoring playing surface quality.
For DrainTalent, the partnership with Excelsior was no coincidence. According to Pim Hermans, Regional Sales Manager Benelux at DrainTalent, demand for high-performance natural grass pitches is rising rapidly, particularly as more clubs move away from artificial turf. “With a hybrid or natural grass pitch, undersoil heating and our system, you create a much more stable playing surface that remains playable throughout the year,” explains Hermans. “It gives groundsmen greater control over moisture levels, planning and pitch quality.”
What sets DrainTalent apart from traditional drainage systems is its use of vacuum drainage combined with data-driven monitoring. While conventional drainage systems operate largely passively, DrainTalent’s system actively responds to weather conditions. A connected weather station forecasts rainfall and automatically controls the system.
“Every pitch reacts differently,” Hermans explains. “That’s why we configure specific parameters for each customer. With limited rainfall, the system does nothing. But during heavy precipitation, it automatically starts extracting water from the rootzone.” In addition, the system continuously collects data on the pitch’s moisture balance. Groundsmen can make adjustments remotely and manage specific areas independently. This is particularly beneficial in stadiums with shaded sections, where some areas become saturated more quickly than others.
DrainTalent describes the system as a ‘circular soil management system’. The principle behind it is straightforward: water removed from the pitch during wet periods is stored in a buffer and reused during dry spells.
“In a fully circular system, water remains in constant circulation,” says Hermans. “We store it during periods of rainfall and reintroduce it into the pitch during dry weather. In this way, you create a sustainable water cycle.”
At Excelsior Rotterdam, additional attention was paid to water quality. The stored water is blended with clean water to neutralise any unwanted properties before it is reintroduced into the pitch.
According to Hermans, one of the system’s greatest strengths lies in its preventive approach. Rather than waiting for rainfall to occur, it can proactively remove moisture from the pitch to create additional buffer capacity. Conversely, during dry periods, water can be infiltrated from below. This encourages deeper root growth and helps keep the turf stronger and healthier. Combined with hybrid fibres, which provide additional surface stability, it creates an ideal combination.
“The roots actively search for water deeper in the profile,” says Hermans. “As a result, the grass remains stronger during warm periods. In addition, subsurface irrigation reduces the risk of fungal diseases.”
The collaboration between Excelsior Rotterdam and DrainTalent does not stop at the stadium pitch. The club is also developing new training pitches equipped with the same system through a straightforward connection. The aim is to create training conditions that closely mirror those of the match pitch.
According to Hermans, this offers significant added value. Training pitches are used intensively every day and often experience heavier wear than stadium pitches. Smart water management helps reduce wear and improve turf continuity.
“If you can create the same conditions on the training pitches as in the stadium, it makes life much easier for both players and groundsmen,” says Hermans. “That level of consistency, made possible in part by our drainage system, provides substantial added value.”
“The major advantage of the DrainTalent system is that we can decide ourselves when, where and how much water to apply, both on the main pitch and on the training pitches. That extensive control over water management was the decisive factor in choosing DrainTalent.”
The demands placed on professional sports pitches continue to increase. Clubs expect maximum playing quality, minimal postponements and more sustainable solutions. According to DrainTalent, technology is becoming increasingly important in meeting those expectations.
“The pitch is the foundation of a sports club’s business. We provide a system that delivers a significant quality boost and greater control,” concludes Pim Hermans. “Everything happens on the pitch. Every week, everyone is looking at it. The quality has to be top-class. Always.”
