Register

For water-management structures managed by the water authority, the Water-management structures register records the requirements that must be met by water-management structures in terms of location, shape, size, and construction.

• The location of water-management structures is shown geographically on the Register.
• When you select a water-management structure on the map, additional information about its shape, dimensions, and construction are displayed (the digital register).
• The information displayed depends on the nature and function of the structure. 

Please note that the information is not complete yet. Some data is not yet available. As long as data is not available, the relevant fields will be left blank. In the absence of standard dimensions, it has been decided to temporarily include the actual dimensions in the Register where possible (provided they are known to be sufficient for the function of the structure). In both cases, the register includes a note stating that the missing data is still to be determined and may be provided on request. 

Water-management structures Register 2023

View online

The Water-management structures Register can be consulted online with the digital map Water-management structures Register 2023 (adopted by the Executive Board on 19 May 2025, arcgis.noorderzijlvest.nl) (Dutch only)

View in the office

You can also view the Water-management structures register by appointment during office hours from 9:00 to 17:00 at the Water-authority office, Stedumermaar 1 in Groningen. You can make an appointment with the Front Office of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority. They can be reached by telephone at: +31 (0)50-304 8911.

The Maintenance Register specifies who is responsible for maintenance and what the maintenance obligation is (i.e., the work or part of the work subject to a duty of maintenance) for water-management structures or other works that affect the operation of water-management structures

• The location of these structures is shown geographically on the Register.
• When you select a structure on the map, additional information is displayed (the digital register).
• A party with a duty of maintenance is a legal entity (companies, organisations, institutions, governments) or a natural person.

Duty of maintenance regulations 

The regulations for designating parties with a duty of maintenance are set out in the Water-Authority Regulations and, for bank-protection work they are specified in the policy memorandum on the duty of maintenance for bank-protection structures.

Bank-protection structures policy 2022.pdf (Dutch only)

Please note that the information is not complete yet. Some data is not yet available. As long as data is not available, the relevant fields will be left blank.

Maintenance register 2023

View online

The 2023 Maintenance Register can be viewed online: 2023 Maintenance Register adopted by the Executive Board on 19 May 2026, arcgis.noorderzijlvest.nl) (Dutch only) 

View in the office

You can also view the Maintenance Register 2023 by appointment during office hours from 9:00 to 17:00. at the Water-authority office, Stedumermaar 1 in Groningen. You can make an appointment with the Front Office of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority. They can be reached by telephone at: +31 (0)50-304 8911.

We use the registers to check where we need to carry out maintenance. This is how it works:

• We have a management register. This management register shows how the water system actually works. How does the water flow, where are the structures located?
• In this register, we keep track of the current status and condition of our water, pumping stations, locks, and weirs.
• Then we compare the data in the register with our records. These records specify the requirements our water, pumping stations, locks, and weirs must meet. This enables us to identify where maintenance is required.
• These registers also indicate who has the duty of maintenance for the supporting structures in the water system and flood defences. Pumping stations, weirs, locks, and inlets are referred to as "structures" in water-authority terminology.

How we deal with the information in the Register is set out in our Register Policy 2022.pdf  (Dutch only).

Washlands

Washlands are areas that can be used by the water authority during high water levels to temporarily store more water in the water system. This refers to the area itself, not just the water in the area, such as a canal or lake. The provincial executive determines which areas are washlands. For example, Onlanden is a washland area in the Noorderzijlvest region.

Management register

The management register is a collection of basic data on water-management structures and other works in the area managed by the water authority. This data is important for managing the water system and treating wastewater. Examples include the length, width, and depth of a canal or how much wastewater a treatment plant can process. The management register forms the basis for daily management and maintenance of the water authority.

Structures

A structure is a construction that is necessary for roads, water, railways, flood defences, or pipes. Examples include bridges and pumping stations. Such constructions are not intended for residential use.

Surface water bodies

A surface water body is a collection of interconnected bodies of water, such as streams, ditches, canals, and lakes. Examples include a canal with ditches that flow directly into it, or a lake. The surface water body also includes the soil and banks, the plants and animals, and the substances in the water. These substances include nutrients and pollutants.

Flood defence

In the water-authority regulations, flood defences are divided into:

• Primary flood defence

  • A primary flood defence is a man-made elevation in the landscape that protects the land behind it from flooding by seawater. This man-made elevation can be a dyke, sheet piling, dyke passage, or embankment wall, for example. The government determines which flood defences are primary flood defences.

• Regional flood defence

  • A regional flood defence is a constructed or natural elevation in the landscape that protects the land behind it from flooding by water from the catchwater. This elevation can be a dyke, sheet piling, embankment wall, or naturally elevated land, for example. The provincial executive determines which defences are regional defences.

• Other flood defences

  • Other flood defences are constructed or natural elevations in the landscape that protect the land behind them from flooding. These elevations include dykes, sheet piling, embankment walls, or naturally elevated land. The water authority determines which defences are classified as other defences.