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

Positive result for 2024

The water board closed 2024 with a positive result of €3.5 million, according to its 2024 Annual Report. This was due in part to lower personnel costs as a result of later recruitment, lower purchasing costs for chemicals, lower energy costs, and more favorable borrowing conditions. The water board 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 dike, Nieuwe Waterwerken Zoutkamp, and the new treatment plant at Gaarkeuken. Many major projects, such as the modernization of our largest treatment plant in Garmerwolde, land development in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier, and measures to improve water quality in the Paterswoldsemeer, among other places, also contribute to a high investment rate. The water board was able to realize 92% of its planned gross investments in 2024.

Framework for 2026 budget - €1.5 million to cushion tax rate increase

Along with the Annual Report, the Executive Committee also presented the Framework Letter with the financial outlook to the General Board. In doing so, the Executive Committee provides a framework for drawing up the budget for 2026 and beyond. In the Framework Letter, the Executive Committee outlines that the water authority will continue to invest in projects that contribute to what the water authority stands for: safe, clean, healthy, and sufficient water in every season. However, it is important to prioritize. Not everything can be done at once. The board wants to remain flexible in response to developments that require our attention, such as the presence of beavers in parts of our working area where we want to prevent damage to flood defenses as much as possible. The system adjustment in 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 amendment of the code of conduct for management and maintenance, which means that mowing waterways is no longer permitted everywhere, also requires us to adapt our working methods. And combating exotic species is taking up 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 board taxes for 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 €1 million of the positive operating results will be used annually until 2027 to mitigate the rate increase. As a result of the new positive result, the executive committee 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 dikes and flood defenses behind the coast

Work on living safely with water, including the management and maintenance of our sea dikes and regional flood defenses inland, continues every day. This includes periodic inspections to assess the safety of the flood defenses. Over the past six months, the water board has carried out inspections throughout the entire working area of Noorderzijlvest.
Almost 60 kilometers of the sea dike has been inspected; the 9-kilometer section between Lauwersmeer and Vierhuizergat is currently being reinforced and was not included in this round of inspections. The conclusion is that the dike largely meets safety standards. At Eemshaven, the asphalt covering on the sea side over a length of 2 kilometers is no longer adequate after 50 years of service and needs to be replaced. Measures are also needed on the dike along the Oostpolder over a length of more than a kilometer. Strictly speaking, this dike still meets the standards. 
The water board is in talks to schedule the repairs in time for the national Flood Protection Program (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 Lauwersmeer-Vierhuizergat section is currently being carried out.

The Noorderzijlvest working area has around 450 kilometers of flood defenses along waterways, farmland, water storage areas, nature reserves, and quays in urban areas. Around 250 kilometers of these were inspected this spring. Most of these defenses are owned by third parties. Some parts of these defences are becoming overgrown because they are mowed less often in order to stimulate biodiversity. The water board is in favor of improving biodiversity, but at the same time recognizes that excessive overgrowth makes inspection more difficult. The water board did not encounter any major defects during this round of inspections. However, owners and managers of flood defences are being asked more emphatically to prevent excessive overgrowth and to remove small trees and shrubs, for example.

Beavers are present along the route at Hoornsedijk – Meerweg. According to the protocol agreed between provinces 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 July 9

The general board will adopt the Annual Report and the Framework Letter during the decision-making meeting on July 9. The inspections of the flood defenses will be accepted for information and sent to the supervisory authorities after this meeting.