Positive result of €3.5 million: water authority continues to invest

Positive result for 2024

The water authority closed 2024 with a surplus of €3.5 million, according to its 2024 Annual Report. This was due to lower personnel costs resulting from delayed hiring, lower procurement costs for chemicals, lower energy costs, and more favourable borrowing terms. The water authority invested €140 million in 2024, which is more than ever before. This is partly due to the implementation of many large projects, including the reinforcement of the Lauwersmeer dyke, Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp (Zoutkamp hydraulic-engineering works), and the new wastewater treatment plant at Gaarkeuken. Many major initiatives, such as the modernisation of our largest wastewater treatment plant in Garmerwolde, landscape planning in Zuidelijk Westerkwartier, and measures to improve water quality in areas including lake Paterswoldsemeer, also contribute to a high level of investment. The water authority was able to realise 92% of its planned gross investments in 2024.

Framework for 2026 budget - €1.5 million to mitigate water-rate increase

Along with the Annual Report, the Executive Board also presented the Board of Directors with the Framework Letter with the financial outlook. In doing so, the Executive Board provides a framework for drawing up the budget for 2026 and beyond. In the Framework Letter, the Executive Board outlines that the water authority continues to invest in projects that contribute to what the water authority champions: safe, clean, healthy, and sufficient water in every season. However, it is important to prioritise. Not everything can be done at the same time. The Board wants to have room for manoeuvre in developments that require our attention, such as the presence of beavers in parts of our region where we want to prevent damage to flood defences as much as possible. The system adjustment in lake Lauwersmeer for an appropriate freshwater/saltwater transition will continue to require attention. The same applies to the major efforts to improve water quality, which will be assessed after 2027 when the third planning period of the Water Framework Directive expires. The adjustment of the code of conduct in management and maintenance, where flail mowing watercourses is no longer possible everywhere, also requires us to adapt our working methods. The control of exotic species also requires more and more time and effort. Our work on new tasks for a climate-proof area will increase now that the importance of water and soil is becoming an increasingly prominent part of the social debate. The expected increase in water rates over the coming year is between 6 and 10% on average for a family. In the Annual Plan for the current year 2025, it has already been agreed that, up to and including 2027, €1 million of the positive operating results will be used each year to mitigate the rate increase. As a result of the new positive result, the Executive Board proposes to increase that amount to €1.5 million for the next three years. This principle will therefore also be incorporated into the 2026 Annual Plan.

Inspection of sea dykes and flood defences behind the coast

Work on waterproofing the future and the management and maintenance of our sea dykes and regional flood defences continues every day. This includes periodic inspections to assess the safety of the flood defences. Over the past six months, the water authority carried out inspections throughout the Noorderzijlvest region.
Almost 60 kilometres of the sea dyke has been inspected; the 9-kilometre section between lake Lauwersmeer and Vierhuizergat is currently being reinforced and was not included in this round of inspections. The conclusion is that the dyke largely meets safety standards. At Eemshaven, the asphalt covering on the sea side over a length of 2 kilometres is no longer adequate after 50 years of service and needs to be replaced. Measures are also needed on the dyke along the Oostpolder over a length of more than a kilometre. Strictly speaking, this dyke still meets the standards. 
The water authority is in talks to schedule the repairs in time for the national Flood Protection Programma (HWBP). The HWBP provides for the reinforcement of all primary sea defences in the country by 2050; in the Noorderzijlvest area, the Eemshaven-Delfzijl section was completed within this programme in 2019. The reinforcement of the lake Lauwersmeer-Vierhuizergat section is currently being carried out.

The Noorderzijlvest region has around 450 kilometres of flood defences along watercourses, farmland, balancing lakes, nature reserves, and flood embankments in urban areas. Around 250 kilometres of these were inspected this spring. Most of these flood defences are owned by third parties. Some parts of these flood defences become overgrown because mowing is carried out less frequently in order to stimulate biodiversity. The water authority is in favour of improving biodiversity, but at the same time recognises that excessive overgrowth makes inspection more difficult. The water authority did not encounter any major defects during this round of inspections. However, owners and managers of flood defences asked more emphatically to prevent excessive overgrowth and to remove small trees and shrubs, for example.

Beavers are present along the at Hoornse dyke – Meerweg section. According to the protocol agreed between provincial executives and water authorities, beavers are allowed to live here. However, the situation at this location is cause for concern. Damage caused by beavers digging can lead to significant flooding. The water authority is preparing measures to prevent the risk of major damage in this beaver habitat.

Decision-making at the meeting of 9 July

The Board of Directors adopts the Annual Report and the Framework Letter at the decision-making meeting on 9 July. The inspections of the flood defences are accepted for information and sent to the supervisory authorities after this meeting.