Board of Directors Meeting, 15 April – Decisions

Funding for nature-friendly banks and for a feasibility study on expanding the Garmerwolde wastewater treatment plant

The Board of Directors met on 15 April. The board decided to approve funding for the construction of nature-friendly banks to improve water quality and to explore the expansion of the region’s largest wastewater treatment plant in Garmerwolde.

Change in Geborgd Natuurterreinen board member

Maurits Tepper recently announced his resignation as a member of the Board of Directors, representing the Geborgd Natuurterreinen political grouping. The Dutch Association of Forest and Nature Area Owners (VBNE) is the appointing body for this reserved seat on the water-authority board. At the meeting on 15 April, Mr. Peter Bakker (62, Groningen) was admitted to the Board of Directors to fill the vacant seat.

 

Feasibility Study for the Expansion of the Garmerwolde Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

The Garmerwolde Wastewater Treatment Plant needs to be made future-proof. The Board of Directors allocated a budget of €6.65 million to fund the feasibility study for the series of measures currently planned. To make “Garmerwolde” ready for the future, we need to work on:

• the ability to remove more organic micropollutants, such as pharmaceutical residues and microplastics;
• improving the reliability of the entire system;
• expansion of capacity to treat increasing volumes of wastewater from more households and businesses;
• making treatment and other processes more sustainable;
• If the water authority decides to construct a second pressure pipe from the city to Garmerwolde - an option that is currently being explored -, the wastewater inlet at the treatment plant will need to be modified.

The water authority expects to invest more than €130 million in "Garmerwolde 2050" over the coming years.

More nature-friendly banks for cleaner water

The Board of Directors approved the allocation of a total of €4.282 million for the creation of 14.3 kilometers of nature-friendly banks under the 2nd and 3rd WFD planning periods, as well as for the construction of an additional 3.76 kilometers of nature-friendly banks along the Reitdiep, including restoration and sustainability measures. With this allocation, the water authority is taking another step towards clean and healthy water while simultaneously investing in a robust, future-proof water system. Nature-friendly banks play a role in improving ecological water quality. They provide habitat for fish, macrofauna, and aquatic plants, ensure cleaner water, and increase the resilience of the water system.