General Board Sets Course and Investments for 2027–2031

On June 24, our General Board adopted the Long-Term Plan (LTP) 2027–2031. This plan outlines what the water board will do over the next five years and how much funding will be required to do so. Decisions were also made regarding major investments and the development of the water board tax.

Working to Ensure Safe, Clean, and Sufficient Water

HHNK will continue to work toward safe, clean, and sufficient water in the coming years. The new multi-year plan builds on previous plans, such as the Water Plan 2022–2027 and the coalition program “Water Connects.” At the same time, the water board is taking new challenges into account, such as climate change, evolving laws and regulations, and rising costs. The long-term plan provides direction for the work and forms the basis for the 2027 budget.

Investments

To ensure the water board is prepared for the future, a total budget of over €208.5 million has been approved. Key investments include:

• a new central digestion plant (€120 million), which helps with the sustainable treatment of sludge and the generation of energy;
• additional funding for the major overhaul of the water system (€79 million);
• maintenance and reinforcement of the Den Helder Seawall (€5 million);
• sustainable measures, such as solar panels and a connection to a wind turbine in Wervershoof;
• replacement of equipment, such as mowing boats and a workboat.

Marjan Leijen, Water Chain Commissioner, states: “To comply with laws and regulations governing water treatment, we will make the water even cleaner, for more people, and in a more sustainable way than ever before. We are addressing the challenges of growth, sustainability, and stricter standards. We cannot do this alone; collaboration is crucial.”

Taxes

To remain financially sound, water board taxes will increase in the coming years. On average, the increase will be 9.7% in 2027 and 9.9% in 2028 and 2029, followed by a leveling off to 3.6% in 2030 and 2.0% in 2031. The water board has made a conscious decision to maintain its financial reserves. This ensures that costs are not passed on to future generations and that HHNK remains prepared for new challenges.

Balancing Priorities and Affordability

In drafting the MJP, we sought to strike a good balance between necessary investments and affordability for residents and businesses. Water Board Member Simon Ruiter: “We have focused strongly on cost control in recent times. As a result, we can now say that the water system fee will not need to increase as rapidly in the coming years as previously anticipated. That’s good for our financial health and for our residents.”