Looking back and looking ahead Elze Reitsema

What kind of year was 2024?

What have we done in 2024 to ensure clean and healthy water?

In hindsight, what would you have done differently?

What kind of year will 2025 be?

What do you think is important for our residents to know?

Working alone and quickly or together and thoroughly?

What are you looking forward to in 2025?

“We shouldn't point fingers at each other and sweep our own doorsteps clean. We need to do that together and work on it together.” 

Elze Reitsema talks about the connection between residents and the water authority. He believes that when residents are offered a perspective, they will achieve water authority results in various projects together with the water authority in the coming years.

Elze Reitsema was appointed as a member of the executive committee of the Noorderzijlvest Water Authority in September 2024. Since 2016, he has been involved with the Water Natuurlijk Noorderzijlvest political group, first as a member of the Bestuur of Directors later as group chair. Today, he looks back on his first few months as an executive board member and looks ahead to the plans for 2025.

Looking back on 2024: I get a lot of energy from how everyone works with such knowledge and passion.

Reitsema describes 2024 as a great year. "I have now been working as a daily manager for almost six months. That is a completely different role from being a general board member and gives me a completely different perspective on what is happening." He enjoys being much more involved in the content and having experienced so much in such a short time. "I get a lot of energy from everyone who works here, with all their passion and knowledge. It is simply a huge privilege to be able to do this."

water authority this work has enabled the water authority to achieve a great deal in the past year in terms of clean and healthy water. "We have drawn up an integrated program, which we will Bestuur of Directors to the Bestuur of Directors in February." The program consists of measures for the Water Framework Directive. The aim of this directive is to have clean water without waste and good water quality by 2027. 

Paterswoldsemeer: long-term project for clean and healthy water and the surrounding area 

But the water authority more than just follow these measures. For example, it has secured a subsidy from the province of Drenthe to further improve water quality there. "But I am most proud of the completion of the Paterswoldsemeer," says Reitsema. This marks the completion of a long-term project. "The Paterswoldsemeer is an extremely important project for the city and its surroundings, but also for us as water authority. We have learned a great deal there about working together with the local community. We can be very proud of that."

water authority what exactly did the water authority do at Paterswoldsemeer? “We took a whole range of measures in consultation with the local community. So it’s actually a compliment to the local community that we were able to work together so well on this.” One of these measures is to let different water into the lake. "That water now comes from the Drentse Aa area and no longer from the Noord-Willemskanaal. This water contains fewer nutrients." This is good, because an excess of nutrients can lead to oxygen depletion in the water and algae growth, which can produce toxic substances. 

“We also constructed an iron sand basin,” Reitsema continues. “This allows us treat the water that enters via the lock.” In addition, nature-friendly banks have been constructed: “Fish shelters, fish forests under jetties. Good opportunities for fish migration weir along the weir . In short, many positive developments have taken place.”

Discussion needed: Do the things we do really contribute to what we say they do?

According to Reitsema, the water authority also water authority learned a lot by 2024. "We have had a lot of discussion about the new code of conduct. That concerns how we should carry out our maintenance." The water authority working on this for a long time in various discussions with the ministry. According to Reitsema, this is unique for a water authority. It wants to carry out certain maintenance in a very careful manner, for the benefit of flora and fauna. But it is difficult to lay this down in law, and there has been a lot of discussion about this, he says. "We have learned that we can do more when it comes to measuring and monitoring. Do the things we do really contribute to what we say they do?

He will take steps in this direction in 2025, when the water authority a member of the delta program for biodiversity restoration. “The knowledge available within that network will help us to measure and monitor more effectively. You will soon see that we really can celebrate success.”

Looking ahead: for clean and healthy water, we focus primarily on the future

For Reitsema, 2025 is also a year of looking ahead. He will propose the package of measures for the final period of the Water Framework Directive, but the work does not stop at the 2027 deadline. "Our work cuts across all kinds of dates, so we also have to look further ahead," he explains. We know that it will end in 2027 because, due to climate change and the pressure of invasive exotic species in our system, we will only have to do more to ensure good water quality in our area." 

He also treat to look beyond 2027 in the area of treat . "We are concerned with clean water, but we also purify water." He wants to use 2025 as a year for research and inventory. "During this term of office, we will Bestuur of Directors a proposal to the Bestuur of Directors on how we view our purification processes in the future. In particular, we will focus on the quality of the water that comes out of them." Here, too, he is contributing to a healthier living environment.

Speaking out: engaging with the community to work together on clean and healthy water

In addition, he wants the water authority to water authority more vocal about its views on clean and healthy water. "Precisely in order to engage in dialogue with the community. We are a party that cares about clean water, because we have a very comprehensive view of everything related to water." He believes that the water authority can connect water authority things, but that in national policy, water quality is not always a leading priority. That is precisely where he wants the water authority more vocal. "We are going to take some great steps in that direction this year."

This does involve a number of challenges. Reitsema explains that you need to carefully assess what you have and how to deal with it. "As a water authority , you want water authority on water quality, but you also have to deal with all kinds of laws and regulations." Many requirements for discharge from treatment plants are not always in line with the directive, which means that cooperation is necessary. The water authority therefore also seek connections from outside. "Water is something that connects, but ultimately it must increasingly come together and have an impact on our water quality."

Resident involvement: as a resident, you can do a lot to promote healthy and clean water. 

Residents also play a role in achieving clean and healthy water, he explains. "We can do a much better job of involving the people who live, work, and recreate in our area in what they themselves can do for clean and healthy water. I denk we sometimes forget that." He says denk the Water Framework Directive is something we must do together. Everyone bears responsibility for it. "We shouldn't point fingers at each other and just clean up our own mess. We need to do this together and work on it together." He wants to offer residents a perspective so that they also know what they are working towards. "I denk will come together very nicely in the coming years."

Kop van Drenthe: exemplary project in which many different interests come together and are heard

Reitsema is looking forward to the strategy of the implementation program that the water authority will be putting together water authority its partners in the Kop van Drenthe region. "We will not only look at what needs to be done, but also at how we want to work together." According to him, this is an example of how you can work together with different interests to shape water and soil management in practice. It is important to have the support of the local community in projects, because water authority a government body, the water authority has a responsibility to everyone who lives, works, or recreates in its area. "That's where we need to demonstrate the importance of such a project. Then you can achieve much more connection with each other. Projects may take longer and become a little more expensive as a result, but ultimately you will achieve great results that will also be truly supported."