Exercise closing dyke passages in Delfzijl
On Thursday evening, September 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Noorderzijlvest Water Authority the Hunze en Aa’s Water Board will be conducting a drill to close the annual dyke passages, known as “coupures,” in Delfzijl.
The exercise is part of the emergency response organization's preparations. We do this every year before the storm season. This allows us to keep our knowledge and skills regarding closure up to date. Thanks in part to the work of the water authority , we water authority waterproofing the future in the area. The safety of our residents and businesses is paramount.
Storm season
Storms and high-water levels occur most frequently between October and April. During this period, we are on standby to monitor the dykes and flood embankments. A dyke lies between the city and the port of Delfzijl, protecting the city from seawater. There are four passages in the dyke. This allows us to go 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 (also known as 'coupures') when the water level exceeds 3 metres above NAP (Amsterdam Ordnance Datum). The higher the water rises, the better the doors seal the passage due to the pressure. It does not remain completely dry behind the closed passage. That is not a problem: the leaking water is collected in the sewer and does not cause any nuisance.
More information about waterproofing the future:Storms and high water