Frequently asked questions about the Bank-Protection Policy

A bank-protection structure protects the edge of a ditch, canal, or other body of water. Examples include sheet piling, flood embankments, and sheet piling walls. They help prevent erosion (soil washout) and subsidence.

The policy applies only to main watercourses. These are large bodies of water that are important for the drainage and supply of water. The water authority carries out routine maintenance (mowing and dredging) on these watercourses.

The basic rule is: whoever needs the bank-protection structure must maintain it. This could be: 

• the water authority
• the landowner: if the bank-protection structure is needed to protect their own land
• both: if both parties have an interest in the bank-protection structure

This is stated in the maintenance register. This is a map that shows who is responsible for which maintenance tasks. A digital register map with bank-protection structures will be published in 2027. 

The water authority responsible if 

• The bank-protection structure is needed to protect a dyke (flood defence)
• The watercourse becomes too narrow when the bank collapses. To allow water to flow in and out, the watercourse must be deep and wide enough (flow profile)
• There is a water-authority mowing path. The water authority uses the mowing path
  for the maintenance (mowing and dredging) of the watercourse

The owner is responsible if the bank-protection structure is needed to: 

• protect his land from erosion
• to protect a building or structure from subsidence

In that case, there is a shared duty of maintenance, and the water authority and the landowner split the costs. The water authority pays for the portion necessary for water management. If the landowner wants a more robust solution, they pay the additional costs.

No. It’s not about ownership, but about who has an interest in the bank-protection structure.

You may still be responsible for maintenance. That depends on whether you or the water authority has an interest in the bank-protection structure. 

In the past, permits were not always applied for. The water authority did not document  not everything properly either.

We are working out who is responsible for maintaining the bank-protection structures and we record this in our maintenance register. This is a good opportunity to let you know  who is responsible. You don’t need to do anything at this time; we are simply organising the information.

No, you can choose not to carry on maintaining the bank-protection structure. Maintenance is not mandatory if you have no interest in it.

If replacement is necessary, the water authority will discuss this with you. The water authority hands over the bank-protection structure in good condition. This means that, if necessary, the bank-protection structure is replaced at the water authority's expense before you become responsible for its maintenance. 

 The regulations are set out in the Water-authority Regulation. You can contact the Permits and Enforcement team of the water authority. They will determine who is responsible for maintenance and the rules that apply. You do not need to wait for the register to be updated.

Yes, usually you do. You need a permit if you want to construct, replace, or modify a bank-protection structure. In the permit, we specify who is responsible for maintenance. Sometimes a permit is denied, for example, if the watercourse becomes too narrow or water quality deteriorates. You do not need a permit if you are maintaining or repairing an existing bank-protection structure without making any structural changes.

The water authority maintains the main watercourse and its banks. The water authority is only responsible for constructing and maintaining a bank-protection structure when the water authority considers it necessary for water management. The water authority will consider solutions together with you. In some cases, a nature-friendly bank may be possible. If bank protection is necessary, the water authority will only pay for the portion of the costs that is in its interest.

This is a gently sloping bank that is good for plants and animals. Bank and aquatic plants have more room. Animals such as hares, chicks, and other small animals find it easier to get out of the water and back onto the bank.

A WFD bank (Water Framework Directive) is a specific type of nature-friendly bank, where the land-water transition and the shallow water zone are particularly important for ecological water quality.

The water authority wants banks that are safe and environmentally friendly. We don’t automatically replace old sheet piling but start by considering sustainable alternatives, such as a natural bank.