Annual plan 2026: water-managment work continues to cost more

Major challenges

The challenges in water management remain considerable and require high investments every year in safe dykes, the collection of peak rainfall and the consequences of dry periods, and the treat sewage. Management and maintenance costs are rising accordingly. This trend has been ongoing throughout the country for a number of years. Tax rates for 2026 will increase by an average of 9.3% for households in the Noorderzijlvest region .

Why is water-management work becoming more expensive?

Work continues unabated on strengthening dykes maintaining flood defences in accordance with standards. The capacity to temporarily store water when heavy rainfall threatens safety is being increased. Pumping stations are being prepared to discharge larger quantities of water. 
This Annual Plan focuses on improving water quality to make water cleaner and healthier. For 2026 and the years that follow, maintenance costs for sewage treatment plants in Leek and Garmerwolde will be higher. Major maintenance is required. A positive consequence is that this modernization will improve the results of the treatment process. This means that increasingly cleaner treated will return to the surface water. Measures in the landscape that will eventually result in cleaner surface water that can also remain in the area for longer also cost a lot of money: re-meandering of streams that were once straightened, construction of kilometers of nature-friendly banks and fish passages are examples of such investments.

Leading the way in working together on water and soil

All this work is being prepared. The water authority involving the local community water authority this process. This means that planning takes a little longer, but it is also done more carefully, with greater attention to the interests at stake in the area. This is important because only through sustainable cooperation can we create added value for the entire area. The water authority very water authority its position in this cooperation: Noorderzijlvest wants to take the lead in working together on water and soil issues. 

Higher costs, particularly in water-treatment levy

In the coming years, the water authority a significant amount of money on maintaining and modernizing sewage treatment plants, among other things. In total, we will be spending €43.6 million on treatment in 2026. This will rise to €54.3 million in 2030. 
These expenses will be covered directly by the water-treatment levy. That portion of the water rates therefore water rates spent specifically on our core statutory task: the treat wastewater. It is that portion that will certainly result in higher rates for taxpayers in 2026. The total increase for households will be between €7 and €55 per year. This depends on whether it is a single-person or multi-person household and whether the household lives in an owner-occupied or rented home. 

Decision

On November 26, the Bestuur of Directors a decision on the 2026 Annual Plan, including the setting of tax rates.