Our rules in brief

The water authority has rules for carrying out our statutory tasks and achieving our objectives. The most important rules are laid down in the Water Authority Regulations. In addition, policies have been established on various topics. These policy rules further elaborate on the rules and objectives in the Water Authority Regulations.

Rules for our environment

The Water Authority Regulations contain rules for carrying out the most common activities in our working area. These are activities that take place in, on, or near

  • surface water bodies;
  • storage areas;
  • flood defenses (dikes and quays) and
  • treatment works (pressure pipes, sewage pumping stations, and sewage treatment plants).

The Water Board Regulations specify when a particular activity is permitted. We provide clarity on whether a particular activity is permitted.

  • a report was required;
  • a permit must be applied for or
  • that the activity may be carried out without notification or a permit.

Duties of care always apply, even if it appears that activities may sometimes be carried out without notification or a permit. The explanatory notes to the rules in the Water Board Regulations explain why certain rules and obligations are imposed.

Rules for management and maintenance

In addition to the rules for carrying out certain activities, the Water Board Regulations also contain rules for management and maintenance. These rules ensure the preservation of

  • surface water bodies;
  • storage areas;
  • flood defenses (dikes and quays);
  • (supporting) works of art;
  • water treatment works.

These rules also clarify who is responsible for maintenance and what the maintenance obligation entails.

Policy for further elaboration of Water Board Regulations

The most important policy documents of the water board that further elaborate on the rules set out in the Water Board Ordinance are:

  • Permit policy memorandum;
  • Enforcement policy under the Environment Act;
  • Accounting policy 2022;
  • Policy on bank protection works 2022;
  • Policy memorandum ‘Ecologically vulnerable surface water bodies in the Noorderzijlvest management area’;
  • Policy memorandum ‘Designated surface water bodies for a number of discharge activities’;
  • Groundwater Management Policy Document;
  • Water Level Management Policy and Water Level Decisions 2018;
  • Policy Memorandum on Water and Space;
  • Fishing Policy Memorandum 2015–2025;
  • Note on Fishing Policy (appendix) - Green Deal Lead-Free Recreational Fishing;
  • Flood Defense Management Plan 2019.