The Drents Overijsselse Delta water board was unable to drain water via the Meppelerdiep this afternoon due to a malfunction at a lock. The water levels rose as a result, and some gardens became flooded.
The fault was in the Meppelerdiepsluis near Zwartsluis. Rijkswaterstaat has now resolved the malfunction, after which the water level was able to drop again in the canal between Meppel and Zwartsluis.
Due to the heavy rainfall in recent days, the water board had to drain a lot of water through the canal. Because the water on the other side of the lock (Zwarte Water, IJsselmeer) was low due to the easterly wind, the locks could not be opened. The water level in the Meppelerdiep would become too low, with risks for shipping and houseboats in Meppel.
The correct amount of water could be discharged via weir valves of the Meppelerdiepsluis, but they did not open. Rijkswaterstaat opened them manually. This allowed the water to flow away and also receded from the gardens.