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The Taintignies-Willemau water buffer basin ("Zone d'Immersion Temporaire" or "ZIT") was created in the middle of agricultural land to capture excess water from the fields, preventing it from reaching residential areas and causing flooding. The entire area is designed as a beautiful experience zone. While the boardwalks invite you to cross the water, that's clearly not the intention: a very clear prohibition sign is posted (at least during my visit, on frosty days). The dikes and grasslands are managed by sheep. In the long term, this area will undoubtedly develop into a fascinating habitat for (water) birds.

The filter ponds in Leers were built to supply water to the Roubaix Canal, which is located nearby. Their primary function is to purify some of the water from the Grimonpont wastewater treatment plant. This plant initially filters 75% of the water; the ponds then process the remaining 25%. This final filtration takes seven days. During this process, the water flows through several ponds, moving from one to the other by gravity. This filtration technique is called phytoremediation: the water is naturally purified by algae, plants, and microorganisms that thrive in these ponds. In Leers, plants such as yellow iris and purple loosestrife, among others, play this purifying role. After seven days of filtration, the water flows into a final 9,000 m² basin. At this stage, it is perfectly purified and of very high quality. This final basin, known as the "storage basin," is the final step before the water is conveyed to the canal. The Leers filter ponds, formerly a landfill, are now a peaceful 5-hectare nature reserve, perfect for a relaxing walk, alone or with the family. The area is home to around thirty bird species, including the coot, the Mediterranean gull, and the reed bunting. If you look closely, you might even be lucky enough to spot a smooth newt swimming in the ponds, searching for small invertebrates to feed on. To protect the environment and wildlife, dogs must be kept on a leash on the paths and are not permitted in the winding sections of the ponds. Source: enm.lillemetropole.fr

Water has an attraction, so try to stop them.

Enjoy a wonderful time by the water 🥰🥰🥰

Old Scheldt arm with its water lilies, yellow water lily, tufted duck and kingfisher,

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just across the bicycle bridge 'the shell' land art

The Avelgem Scheldemeersen is now a combination of grassland, cultivated land and a diked Scheldt, but that used to be different. The Scheldt lakes were probably covered with shrubs after the last ice age. The Scheldt had not yet been diked, which meant that the valley regularly flooded. This created a lake biotope, especially in winter. Sand was piled up on the southern edge of the valley, on which the village centers of Escanaffles and Ruien later emerged. The northern edge, where Avelgem is located, was created after clay was deposited in curved soils or "meersen". The northern and southern valley edges in the Avelgem Scheldemeersen are almost the only places within the valley where habitation is present. When the Scheldt was straightened for the last time last century, several 'coupures' or cut-off arms were created with stagnant or weakly flowing water. The 'Coupure Deweer' is a wonderful example of this. In the still water of the meander, fish, plants and other organisms maintain a delicate balance. You will also find the Nature House (NEC) of Natuurpunt Avelgem there.