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Logo Noorderzijlvest Water Authority
Logo Noorderzijlvest Water Authority

Waterproofing the future

We live in one of the most dangerous areas in the world because our country lies below sea level. To protect ourselves from the water, we have built dykes and flood embankments. Sometimes there is a lot of rain in a short period of time. We store the excess water in areas designed for that purpose. That helps us to keep our feet dry. We have to learn to live safely with sometimes too much and sometimes too little water.

Storms and high water

Storms and high water occur most frequently between October and April. During this period, we are ready to monitor the dykes and flood embankments.

Earthquakes

Gas extraction in Groningen causes earthquakes. By reinforcing dykes and flood embankments, we ensure they can withstand earthquakes.

Subsidence

Gas is located in a layer of rock at a depth of 3 kilometres. All soil layers above this rock layer are sinking due to gas extraction.

Muskrat management

Muskrats dig tunnels and burrows that can cause damage to dykes, banks, and flood embankments. They do not fit into our water system.

Maintenance of dykes and flood embankments

We maintain dykes and flood embankments so that they remain strong enough to hold back water. Every six years, we test whether the dykes and flood embankments are still strong enough.

Balancing lakes

In the event of flooding, we discharge excess water into the sea. When seawater levels are high, this is not always possible immediately. In that case, we temporarily store the water.

Maintenance of bank-protection works

Policy for the design and designation of the duty of maintenance for embankment walls, sheet piling, and banks.

The flow of too much water

How do we deal with excess water when it rains for a long time? We show this in our animation 'The flow of too much water'.