Annual Plan 2025: growth for the value of water

Higher investments

This year, for the first time, net operating costs total more than €100 million. Noorderzijlvest has never before exceeded this threshold. The level of gross investments for 2025 stands at €127 million.

Major challenges

Climate change is leading to longer periods of persistent rainfall, which means that people and machinery are sometimes required to work around the clock for weeks or even months. The capacity of pumping stations increased. Dykes reinforced. Longer periods of drought present challenges in retaining water for as long as possible where feasible.
In regional processes, we are working with partners to find solutions for mitigating the effects of climate change as effectively as possible. The technical feasibility of shaping our landscape has its limits; we now know that adapting to nature and providing sufficient space for water helps prevent or reduce future problems. The consistent application of the “water and soil-driven” principle is becoming water-management work important in water-management work . This requires new policy frameworks, which will be developed in the coming period.
The European objectives to meet strict standards for clean and healthy surface water demand significant effort from water authorities. And the requirements for the treatment process of wastewater from households and businesses are becoming increasingly stringent. As the number of homes continues to grow, the future capacity of existing wastewater treatment plants requires attention. Facilities and processes must customised accordingly.

These developments lead to more work and thus more investments. It also means that the water authority organisation will grow in size organisation coming years. The growth in capacity is particularly evident in daily management and maintenance, as well as in the development and modernisation wastewater treatment plants. Growth is projected at 4% by 2025.

Water utility charges are rising by an average of 7.1%

The water authority taxes on residents and businesses. This is its main source of revenue. In previous years, water authority charges also rose; rising inflation and increasing material costs were partly to blame for this. These effects are still being felt. In addition, higher investments and an expanding organisation the rise in tax rates: +€43 per year for an average family owning a home. A family renting a home will pay €28 more next year. A single person renting a home will pay €17 more. The average percentage increase across the various tax categories is 7.1%. The Executive Committee proposes using a one-time allocation of €1 million from the municipality’s own reserves to ensure that the tax rate comes out at that average of 7.1%.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors the final decision on the 2025 Annual Plan and the tax rates on November 27. 

Want to read the full annual plan?

You can find the full 2025 Annual Plan among the meeting materials for November 27 at noorderzijlvest.bestuurlijkeinformatie.nl: 2025 Annual Plan