Policy on 'designated surface water bodies for discharge activities' available for inspection
The executive committee of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority announces that the draft 'Policy document on designated surface water bodies for a number of discharge activities' will be available for inspection from December 21, 2023, to February 7, 2024.
What are "designated surface water bodies" and why are they being designated now?
The Environment Act will come into force on January 1, 2024. Based on this Act, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority has adopted a Water Authority Regulation (overheid.nl). This will come into force on January 2, 2024. In it, the water board describes, among other things, the rules for a number of discharge activities (in Appendix 5), which the water board has received from the government through the so-called 'dowry' and has incorporated into the Water Board Regulation in a policy-neutral manner. These rules refer to emission limits for 'designated' and 'non-designated' surface water bodies for five discharge activities. In its Water Authority Regulations, the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority has stipulated 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 document, which is currently available for inspection in draft form, substantiates the principles used to determine which surface water bodies in the Noorderzijlvest water board's management area are 'designated' surface water bodies. All other surface water bodies are then automatically designated as 'non-designated' surface water bodies.
Options for viewing the design
The policy memorandum will be available for inspection from December 21, 2023, to February 7, 2024. The document can be consulted digitally via overheid.nl: ‘Policy memorandum on designated surface water bodies for a number of discharge activities’. To view the physical document at the Waterschapshuis, please make an appointment by telephone. The address is Stedumermaar 1 in Groningen. We can then also show you a more detailed map.
Submit opinion
During this period of public inspection, interested parties may submit their views on this draft. This can be done in writing by sending a letter to the executive committee of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority, PO Box 18, 9700 AA in Groningen, or by email to info@noorderzijlvest.nl. You can also call 050 - 304 8911 to make an appointment to express your opinion verbally.
Contact person
Our contact person for this policy memorandum is Daan Beltman.