Policy on 'designated surface water bodies for discharge activities' available for inspection

What are "designated surface water bodies" and why are they being designated now?

The Environment and Planning Act will Environment and Planning Act on January 1, 2024. Pursuant to this Act, Noorderzijlvest Water Authority adopted a Water Authority Regulation (overheid.nl). These regulations will take effect on January 2, 2024. In them, the water authority describes, water authority , the regulations a number of discharge activities (in Appendix 5), which the water authority received from the national government water authority the so-called “dowry” and has incorporated into the Water Authority Regulations in a policy-neutral manner. These regulations to emission limit values for “designated” and “non-designated” surface water bodies for five discharge activities. Noorderzijlvest Water Authority stipulated in its Water Authority Regulation that the stricter emission standards for these five discharge activities apply to the “designated surface water bodies” and the less stringent emission standards to the “non-designated surface water bodies.”

What does this draft say?

The policy memorandum is currently available for public review as a draft, explains the principles used to determine which surface water bodies within the management area of the water authority are designated as “designated” surface water bodies. All other surface water bodies are then automatically classified as “non-designated” surface water bodies.

Options for viewing the design

The public comment period for the policy memorandum from December 21, 2023, through February 7, 2024. The document can be viewed online at overheid.nl: “Policy Memorandum on Designated Surface Water Bodies for Certain Discharge Activities”. To view the physical document at the Waterschapshuis, please make an appointment by phone. The address is Stedumermaar 1 in Groningen. We can also show you a more detailed map at that time.

Submit opinion

During this public review period, interested parties may submit comments on this draft. Comments may be submitted in writing by sending a letter to the Executive Board of Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, P. Postbus , 9700 AA Groningen, or by email to info@noorderzijlvest.nl. You may also call 050-304-8911 to schedule an appointment to present your comments in person.

Contact person

Our contact person for this policy memorandum Daan Beltman.