The Rijnland District Water Control Board

Who are we and what do we do

The Rijnland District Water Control Board ensures that we have clean water and dry feet. District water boards are governmental organisations that could be compared with provinces and local councils.

Rijnland is not the only district water board in the Netherlands. There are many water boards spread over all the provinces. Rijnland works in two provinces: North Holland and South Holland. The Rijnland area stretches from Wassenaar up to and including part of Amsterdam, and from IJmuiden up to and including Gouda. This area is 1,100km² in size. 1.3 million people live, work, travel and enjoy leisure activities here.

This area has many lakes, rivers, waterways and 200 polders. It is bordered on the westside by the North Sea.

Rijnland's work includes:           

• ensuring that dunes, dikes and embankments are in good condition so that the land is protected from high water levels (flood defences);ensuring a good quality of open water so that it can be used for recreation, watering cattle and as a habitat for a large variety of  plants and animals (water quality);
• ensuring that there is sufficient (fresh) water: not too much and not too little (water management);
• ensuring that polluted river, canal and lake beds are cleaned; that the water provides opportunities for natural development and that it has a place in towns and cities (water management plus).

Providing drinking water is not one of the responsibilities of Rijnland. The water companies look after this. Local councils and provinces are responsible for groundwater.       

Flood defences

The dunes and dikes

The most important flood defence is the 40 kilometre-long strip of dunes between Wassenaar and IJmuiden. This coastal strip is 250 metres wide and defends both North and South Holland against the sea. The Rijnland District Water Control Board is responsible for maintaining the dunes. The dunes are a vulnerable area and of major importance in protecting the hinterland.

Water quality

Waste water purification plants    

Rijnland processes waste water from homes and businesses. This waste water arrives at Rijnland's purifying plants via the sewage system. There the water is cleaned. This is done naturally with the aid of bacteria and oxygen. The clean water is then discharged into open water. Rijnland manages 33 purification plants within its area.                                             

Rijnland also devotes a lot of attention to combating pollution in open water. Rijnland grants permits that impose strict conditions for discharging waste water. Rijnland checks for and investigates illegal discharges of waste water.                                

Laboratory  

To establish the quality of the water, research is carried out in Rijnland's own laboratory. In addition to investigating the waste water caused by companies and industries, the presence of heavy metals, salt, oxygen, phosphates and nitrogen in the water is also checked. The quality and composition of plant and animal life in the water is also a consideration.

Water management

Pumping stations

Rijnland's pumping stations ensure that water is always at the required level. The level of open water should not vary too greatly. If the water level rises too high, this can result in flooding. If the water level is too low, this can damage the foundations of buildings and dikes. Too much water means that plants and crops rot. Too low a water level means that these plants wither. So the water level has a direct influence on the way areas can be used.              

The water in Rijnland's drainage system composed of a series of lakes, ponds and canals that are linked to each other - is always kept at a constant level: 60 centimetres under Normal Amsterdam Level.

Water management Plus

Dredging

All substances that enter the water finally end up on the bed of the waterway. Often, polluted substances end up on the bed, which then re-releases them back, into the water. So it is important to clean the polluted bed. We do this by dredging. This also enables Rijnland to keep the waterways at their correct width and depth, allowing sufficient room to add or remove water as needed, or even to store water.

Nature & the environment

Rijnland brings nature and water closer together. For example, Rijnland considers the construction of nature-friendly banksides important. You no longer find them as steep, edged brick reenforced but sloping banks covered in waterplants. This means that water birds and other animals can move much more easily between water and land. The shallows along are ideal breeding areas for fish.

Partnership

Water is not just the business of the water board. National and provincial governments and local councils are also involved with it. A growing group of various organisations is also paying more attention to water: drinkingwater companies, agricultural and horticultural organisations, watersports clubs, fishing clubs, nature and environmental organisations, chambers of commerce and leisure companies. These are all organisations that are concerned with water. Rijnland is working together with all of these parties in various projects. 

Land drainage rates

Water management is necessary, however it also costs a lot of money. Every year, Rijnland has a turnover of approximately 90 million euros. This 90 million comes from Land Drainage Rates that are paid by almost everyone within the Rijnland area. Included with the assessment notice that you receive from Rijnland every year is an information leaflet giving further explanation.

What can you do to keep water clean?           

• Do not flush food leftovers, cat-litter granules, sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, cooking fat, etc. through the toilet or down the plug-hole. This also prevents blockages at home.
• Leftover pesticides/herbicides, photographic chemicals, medicines, paint and used engine oil must not enter the waste water system. You can return medicines, engine oil and photographic chemicals to your supplier. Small amounts of chemical waste such as leftover paint can be handed over to your local council.
• And finally something that you have known for a long time, of course: ditches, canals and lakes are not rubbish dumps.

Want to know more?

For more information about Rijnland:

Internet:www.rijnland.net
Telephone: 071-3063063
E-mail: post@rijnland.net

For text and explanation of the Land Drainage Rates assessment form, call 071-3063063 or mail belasting@rijnland.net.