National Water Plan

Abstract

In the last decade, the Fourth National Policy Document on Water Management (Vierde Nota waterhuishouding), the Water Management in the 21st Century Advisory Committee (Commissie Waterbeheer 21e eeuw) and the National Administrative Agreement on Water (Nationaal Bestuursakkoord Water) represented an important impulse for water management. With this first National Water Plan, which is also a framework vision based on the Water Act (Waterwet) and the Spatial Planning Act (Wet ruimtelijke ordening) and which was drafted for the 2009-2015 planning period, we are entering a new phase. Because we want future generations to be able to enjoy the Netherlands as a safe and affluent land of water, we have to find answers now to developments in climate, demography and economy, and invest in sustainable water management. Effective flood defences, the prevention of flooding and waterlogging and drought wherever possible, and good water quality are basic preconditions for prosperity and well-being. These are achievements that the Netherlands owes, in large measure, to water, to its favourable location and to the excellent supply of freshwater. The Netherlands, an attractive country with an abundance of water and high levels of safety, contributes positively towards the quality of the living environment and the conservation of biodiversity. Water is wonderful and the Dutch love it. The aim is crystal clear: the Netherlands, a safe and liveable delta, now and in the future. In this context, a draft Delta Act was formulated in 2009, which regulates the legal basis of the Delta Programme as well as the tasks and powers of the Delta Commissioner (Deltacommissaris) and the Delta Committee. The Delta Commissioner was appointed in 2009. The National Water Plan presents an initial elaboration of the Delta Programme. The aim of the Delta Programme is to achieve sustainable water safety and a sustainable freshwater supply by means of an efficient, resolute and comprehensive approach to the major water tasks the Netherlands will be facing in the coming decades. A start has been made on the organisational structure for the concrete development and elaboration of the programme in nine sub-programmes. These are the generic programmes Water Safety, Freshwater Supply and New Construction and Reorganisation, and the area-based sub-programmes Coast, Wadden Area, southwest Delta, the Rijnmond and Drechtsteden region, the Rivers, and the IJsselmeer area. Expenditure for the Delta Programme has not been included in the National Water Plan and will be worked out in the planning period. Comprising fixed, stable and substantial funding amounting to at least one billion euros annually from 2020 onward, the Delta Fund will enable the forceful implementation of the Delta Programme.