Exercise closing dike passages Delfzijl - September 25
On Thursday, September 25, the Noorderzijlvest and Hunze en Aa’s Water Boards will be practicing closing the dike passages (the coupures). We will be doing this from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The exercise is repeated every year before the start of the storm season.
Exercise
The exercise helps us prepare for emergencies. By repeatedly closing the dike passages, we know exactly what to do in the event of high water. Once the doors are closed, we open them again. This minimizes disruption for residents and visitors. Thanks to the work of the water authorities, we can live safely with water.
Storm season
Storms and high water levels occur most frequently between October and April. During this period, we are on standby to monitor the dikes and quays. Between the city and the port of Delfzijl lies a 750-meter dike that protects the city from seawater. The dike has four passages that allow access from the city to the port and vice versa. These passages have large doors: two electric roller doors, one revolving door, and one sliding door. We close these doors (the 'coupures') when the water level reaches 3 meters above NAP (Normal Amsterdam Level). It does not remain completely dry behind the doors. That is not a problem: the leaking water goes into the sewer.
More information about living safely with water: Storms and high water.
