Everyone go vote for the water boards on March 15. Because the oldest government body in the Netherlands is too important to ignore, argue Bernd de Nijs and Klaas Wierenga.
The elections are coming! Not only for the province, but also for the water board. It is striking that the important tasks of the water board are unknown to many people. That is why we want to stand up for this oldest government body in the Netherlands.
The main task of the Noorderzijlvest water board is to protect us against high water. For example, it was recently decided to raise and reinforce the dike at the Lauwersmeer. The question that arises with increasing emphasis is whether raising dikes again and again is the right solution. Among other things, widening and silting up outside the dikes can also make an important contribution to safety.
Expensive method
Furthermore, we do not only defend ourselves against the sea water; Due to climate change, too much rainwater is also an increasing problem. That is why water storage areas such as the Onlanden are so important. While it has been raining more and more heavily in Groningen and Drenthe in recent years, the drought is also increasing. Voting in the water board elections means being able to influence the way in which the water board has approached water management so far. When it rains, huge quantities are quickly drained, and when it is dry, water must be pumped back. An unnatural and expensive method.
Another important task is cleaning sewage water and improving the quality of the surface water. Blue-green algae, for example, must be prevented as much as possible, including through natural flow. Promoting biodiversity, purifying more for medicine residues and chemicals, and reducing the amount of fertilizer and pesticides in the ditch water helps to keep nature clean. Placing fish passages, dredging and quay reinforcements are also tasks of the water boards.
Tell costs
Water authorities have the unique opportunity to recover all costs they incur from taxpayers. This principle does not immediately provide an incentive to work as economically as possible. All expenses are therefore assessed by the board of the water board. The parties each have their own perspective on how to deal with finances. We also differ in opinion on this.
Taxes are collected by four overlapping categories: residents, owners of homes and business premises, farmers and nature. The water board can determine to a certain extent what the level of the tax rate will be for each category. The choices made by the water board are partly based on the number of seats of the various parties on the board. That is why it is so important to vote.
We call on you to make a conscious choice on 15 March. The voting guide can help: Noorderzijlvest.mijnstem.nl .
Bernd de Nijs and Klaas Wierenga are chairmen of Affordable Water and the ChristenUnie respectively for the Noorderzijlvest water board.