Maintenance of bank protection works

Responsibility for maintenance depends on the situation

If you want to modify or replace a revetment, quay wall, or sheet piling, you will need a permit from the water board. To grant the permit, we look at who needs the bank protection work and therefore becomes responsible for its maintenance. That is the basic rule. So only when existing bank protection work is replaced and a new permit is required for this can you be subject to the new rules. There are three possible situations:

1. water board is responsible for maintenance
2. Adjacent owner is responsible for maintenance.
3. both parties are responsible for maintenance

Do you own a plot of land that is located on the water? The rules for the construction and maintenance of quay walls, revetments, and sheet piling along the main waterways have changed. We explain the three situations below.

Who needs the bank protection work?

That is the question we ask every time we have to determine who is responsible for maintenance.
This is an important point in the new rules we have drawn up for the construction and maintenance of
coastal defenses. We call this policy.

The water board only needs protection with a bank protection structure if:

1. The waterway is not wide and deep enough, which means that the water cannot flow sufficiently.
2. There is a flood barrier in the immediate vicinity that must be protected. This will prevent
   flooding.
3. There is a maintenance path belonging to the water board between the waterway and your land. We use the
   maintenance path when carrying out maintenance along the waterway.

You may need protection to safeguard your garden, home, or other property, for example. Below are a number of images showing examples.

Water board is responsible for maintenance

The image 'Importance of the water board' shows that the water board needs the bank protection works. In this situation, it is necessary to protect a flood defense (the dike). This means that the water board is responsible for maintenance and bears the costs. When determining who needs the bank protection works, it does not matter who owns the land on which it is built.

Adjacent owner is responsible for maintenance

The image 'Adjacent owner' shows that the owner of the land adjacent to the watercourse needs the bank protection works. In this situation, it is necessary to protect the land on which the house is built. The watercourse is wide and deep enough to allow water to flow away properly. This means that the adjacent owner is responsible for maintenance and bears the costs. When determining who needs the bank protection, it does not matter who owns the land on which it is built.

Both parties are responsible for maintenance.

The image 'Importance of adjacent owner and water board' shows that both the owner of the land adjacent to the watercourse and the water board need the bank protection works. In this situation, it is necessary to protect the land on which the house is built. The watercourse is not wide and deep enough to allow water to flow away properly. This means that both parties are responsible for maintenance. We make agreements about this together
. When determining who needs the bank protection works, it does not matter who owns the land on which the house is built
. In the case of shared responsibility, we always pay for the part that is necessary for our protection. If that is sufficient for you, there are no additional costs. It is possible that you may need a different construction. The additional costs will then be for your account. When the time comes, we will also discuss this and record the agreements made.

Area processes

Owners of land adjacent to the main water system may be affected by the new policy for maintenance of bank protection works and the associated (financial) consequences. We inform stakeholders through regional processes and discuss the consequences of the new rules with them. We lay down new agreements. This makes it clear who is responsible for which maintenance, now and in the future.
In 2024, area processes will take place in the municipalities of Eemsdelta and Het Hogeland. The municipalities of Groningen and Westerkwartier will follow in 2025.

More information

• Frequently asked questions Policy on bank protection.pdf link to PDF file
• The maintenance register specifies who is responsible for the maintenance of each waterway, quay, and dike. More information about the (maintenance)register.  

Do you have questions about the new rules for maintaining revetments, quay walls, or sheet piling along main waterways? Or would you like to know more about the area approach? Please email us at onderhoudoevers@noorderzijlvest.nl or write to us at: Waterschap Noorderzijlvest, PO Box 18, 9700 AA Groningen.

We will contact you as soon as possible.