Administrative Questions 2021

The Cabinet has decided to create the possibility for municipalities and water boards to raise the wealth standard for those entitled to AOW and completely disabled by a maximum of €2,000 as of January 1, 2022. Do you intend to propose to the CHI to proceed with this widening? (Gerard Meuwese, December 7, 2021)

Various questions including measurement and sampling methods, stockpiling of area-specific fresh water in the subsurface, a national approach to groundwater management and the possibilities of enforcement and other administrative law instruments such as administrative coercion." (Leo Schagen, Dec. 7, 2021)

Does it happen that you declare objections inadmissible because the deadline has been (slightly) exceeded? If so, will HHNK please be flexible about this in the future? (Peter Vonk, November 29, 2021)

We have water quality targets for each water body. Would it be possible to improve the water quality (in a water body) by changing something about the fish stock, for example by catching or releasing certain fish species, giving sport and professional fishermen a (possibly paid) role in this? Do you see possibilities for some pilots? (Peter Vonk, November 27, 2021)

Is it true that you are working on a (revised) regional displacement series? Can you explain the content, process and collaboration? Why does the decision-making take place in D&H and not in the CHI? What is the decision-making process in other water boards? Can you confirm that the displacement series has an impact on important themes for which the CHI sets frameworks, such as energy (transition), water shortage, drought, IJsselmeer strategy and peat meadow/soil subsidence? Would it not be desirable to be able to take the input from the CHI to regional and national tables?" (Luuk Zaal, November 26, 2021)

Are you familiar with the article "Contractor trio to renovate and maintain water treatment plants" (NHD, Sept. 12)? Is this true? Will this still be explained in the BMW committee or in the CHI? Why are all the WWTPs mentioned? How does this relate to contracting locally as much as possible? Are local subcontractors involved in this and have agreements been made on this? (Elly Koning-Bruijn and Gerard Meuwese, November 2, 2021)

Why is the extra mowing on Texel no longer done by the in-house service? How many times does the hired contractor mow the watercourses in question and what are the costs? Were local employees of HHNK with area knowledge involved in the preparation and decision making, and if so, how? Does this fit into HHNK's mowing policy? (Arie Lap, September 1, 2021)

Your press release about the painting work at the Edam Sea Lock states that attention will be paid to the water lines through walking tours on September 3. Does this fit within current COVID regulations? What is the financial picture for this event? Will HHNK receive compensation for the costs? Where can we turn to HHNK to facilitate activities for the bridges and locks? (Ronald van Schoorl, Aug. 31, 2021)

Your college has always taken the position that the IJssel Lake and Markermeer should be untouchable as freshwater and drinking water buffers. Today we read an article in the NHD, in which Lower House members advocate housing in the Markermeer, as a solution to the increasing space claims in the Netherlands. We find it very disturbing that this idea lives in political The Hague. Are you aware of these ideas? Will you take a position on this as soon as possible and also share this with the press? Will you keep CHI informed of these actions, reactions and follow-up? (Jacob Avis, August 24, 2021)

Through the daily Newsletter HHNK we read an article titled "George Soros makes radical ideas mainstream in the Netherlands too with his money. It stated that HHNK would also provide a financial contribution to keep OneWorld going. Is this claim true? (Jacob Avis and Elly Koning-Bruijn, Aug. 18, 2021)

At the June 23 CHI meeting, you agreed to come up with an evaluation of the June 18 flooding by the end of August. No further agreements were made about the research questions and the conduct of the study. The July 1 NHD reported that you may be organizing meetings for victims. Would you please bring the CHI along early and keep them informed about the formulation of the research questions, the design of the research, the methodology and the time frame? (Arnold Langeveld, July 5, 2021)

In Schagen there are a number of beautiful canoe routes that are well used. Most of the routes are in good condition and there is great satisfaction with a recently constructed new jetty. Unfortunately some places on the marked routes are almost impassable. Reed collars impede good passage for canoeists. Would you please periodically check and improve the passability of the routes so that at least during the season the routes are easily navigable? (Frank Frowijn, July 5, 2021)

For the purpose of residential construction, vertical drainage is increasingly being used. In areas with saline seepage and when drains are placed through clay and peat layers, vertical drainage can pose a risk to groundwater and surface water quality. The application of vertical drainage is not subject to a permit requirement. The CDA Group believes that perforations in areas with saline seepage should become subject to permit/reporting requirements as soon as possible. Can you provide a timeframe for this? Can this be included when updating the regulations under the Omgevingswet? (Frank Frowijn, July 5, 2021) 

During the theme session on Peat Meadows/Low Holland on April 28, it was agreed that D&H would formulate HHNK's policy intentions so that a framework could be set for HHNK's input towards the Area Program Low Holland. Please send this memorandum to us. (Wim Hamers, June 25, 2021)

The province of North Holland is the competent authority for regional waterway management. The province manages 250 km of waterways itself, but has outsourced the management of 100 km of waterways to us. Why? Waterway management is not a core task of ours. Do you intend to divest this management in time? If not, why not? What activities are involved? What costs do we incur and what financial contribution do we receive for them? (Luuk Zaal, June 24, 2021)

At the May 12 CHI meeting, Mr. Swaag asked how the participation process in the creation of the Burkmeer Water Level Decree went. Mr. Schenk replied that he was not aware of any negative signals and that all the views received came from outside the area. But the possibility of submitting an opinion is different from a participation process. Therefore the question again: Has there been a participation process? What did it look like? How was it conducted? And what were the results and findings? (Arnold Langeveld, June 18, 2021)

During dredging of the Beemsterringvaart about six years ago, too much dredge was removed from the shore. As a result, the reed-covered walkways are no longer stable and the reeds are loose. Is the coordination between boating management and reed management in our organization optimal? Isn't the dredging policy focused too much on the amount of dredging instead of qualitative measures such as water quality, management of banks, prevention of erosion and dike stability? Is there adequate supervision of dredging? And would you like to invite us to think together about the method of dredging, especially in the outer/peat meadow area, more climate-adaptive measures and the possibilities of making a case forNature Based Solutions? (Leo Schagen, May 31, 2021)

Until recently it was possible to view the water level orders in our area via the HHNK website. Recently, this has no longer been possible for all water level orders. Is there any way to view all the level decisions without having to request them first? A monitoring well decision in my area no longer states the summer and winter levels, but an upper and lower limit. When was this changed and was this adequately communicated to all parties? There are often significant differences between the "theoretical" level from the level decision and the actual level. Are levels measured regularly before they are reset? (Arie Lap, May 31, 2021)

At the data center complex at Agriport, there are approximately 150 diesel generators, and the associated storage tanks hold approximately 200,000 to 300,000 liters of diesel fuel. What precautions have been taken? What regulations apply to such a large quantity of diesel and fuel and are they monitored? Have the risks to the surrounding area been Map ? (Jacob Avis, May 25, 2021)

A maximum cooling water capacity has been agreed with PWN for each data center. Can you share this maximum capacity with us? You state that the discharged brine water has no adverse effect on surface water quality. By this do you mean the quality of the waterways in our management area? This brine water is mixed with surface water in the watercourses. Then this surface water becomes saltier, right? What are the effects on water quality, aquatic life and salinization? How is it possible that the Medemblikkervaart is not part of our freshwater supply? What do you understand by "our freshwater supply"? Which route does the discharged water take towards pumping station Leemans? (Luuk Zaal, May 14, 2021)

The dike improvement in Uitdam-Dorp as formulated in the Delta Commissioner's advice is considerably more expensive than an axis shift with implementation in soil. Through his mediation, however, €10 million in additional funding has become available. The independent EIA committee says about this: "For the Uitdam-Dorp module, the starting point 'sober and efficient' has been placed in a different perspective based on this advice." How will the difference between funding and costs (€2-5 million) be financed? (Peter Vonk, May 12, 2021)

Are you familiar with the action 'It's raining barrels'? Do you agree with the CDA Group that such an action - which contributes to climate adaptation by citizens themselves, to greater water awareness among citizens and to better participation of people distanced from the labor market - is both useful and sympathetic? Are you willing to investigate whether such an action can also be organized in our region? (Frank Frowijn, May 8, 2021)

How many metering companies and tabulating companies are in the top 50 large dischargers and what is the total number of pollution units? How many of these companies have some form of pre-treatment? What types of companies are involved and where are they located (Ron Wiese, April 21, 2021)?

What is the temperature of the cooling water to be discharged? If it is higher or lower than the surface water, is there thermal pollution? If so, what are the consequences for aquatic life and water quality? Is this monitored and have agreements been made with the data centers about this? What consequences does the salt in the cooling water have for salinization and for livestock watering? How many ppm does the discharge water contain? What other substances are added and discharged to the cooling water? Is additional regulation needed? (Elly Koning-Bruijn on behalf of Natural BBW, AWP, List Meuwese-Avis and CDA, April 20, 2021)

How is HHNK involved in licensing data centers? What is the term of the permits? What is the maximum number of days cooling water may be used? What place do data centers have in the displacement series? What substances does the cooling water used contain and what is the temperature? How and where is the used cooling water discharged and what are the effects? How does the use of cooling water affect freshwater supplies, salinization and land subsidence in our area? How does the arrival of data centers affect the need for dike reinforcements? (Luuk Zaal, April 13)

Today news reached us via both WNL and the NHD about the data centers in the Wieringermeer, also in relation to HHNK. A letter from the province to the municipality of Hollands Kroon, among others, was cited. Did you receive a copy of this letter? If so, would you please share this letter with the General Board (Jacob Avis, March 30, 2021).

In the future, HHNK must continue to both purchase a lot of electricity locally and feed electricity back into the grid. Can you provide an overview of the top 15 to 20 locations with the largest consumption (including type of installation) and/or generation (including distribution in share of CHP, solar panels and wind turbines) of electricity in 2020? And of the expected future picture in 3 to 5 years (after closure of the SDI)? (Theo Breedijk, March 22, 2021)

In answering my earlier questions (December 2020), you indicated that during the process of arriving at the Area Plan, the three parties involved determined a number of "development principles. New initiatives in the area would be tested against these. Did this happen? For HHNK the most important principle was: 'water neutral realization of plans'. After realization of the plans, will HHNK actually test whether the qualitative and quantitative requirements have been met? (Arnold Langeveld, February 22, 2021)

A water board may not borrow money to invest. This is regulated by the FIDO law, financing decentralized governments. But of course we are allowed to borrow money to make (proposed) expenditures. So what's stopping us from taking advantage of the current negative interest rate? A negative interest rate of 0.1% yields €1 million over €1 billion." (Peter Vonk, Feb. 20, 2021)

Will the new Water Plan (WBP6) be created in the spirit of the Omgevingswet ? What does the process look like? How is participation arranged? Who will be consulted and why? What considerations did you have in choosing to use a limited (due to the coronavirus) consultation process? Is participation measured and is input classified? Can the input be displayed openly and transparently for all to see? Will there be a renewed commitment to building blocks? If so, which ones? And can this process also serve as a pilot for (possibly) new participation policies? (WN, AWP and NT, February 15, 2021)

In an article in the NHD about Agriport A7, we read that an employee of HHNK, who came to check a pumping station on Microsoft's property, was turned away by security. Is this story true? Who owns the pumping station? Who is responsible for the water level on this property? What is the access arrangement for employees of HHNK? Can situations like this be prevented in the future? (Jacob Avis, Feb. 15, 2021)

Several pesticide standard violations have been observed around a farmer's plots in polder the Drieban in recent years. Can you qualify and quantify these? Is there a relationship between the pesticides found and ornamental cultivation? How has the issue been communicated with the grower and with the Province? How do the exceedances relate to the objectives of the WFD, to our own ambitions and to biodiversity? What follow-up actions or improvement measures are needed? Can the Agriculture Portal play a stimulating role in this? (Sjon Wagenaar on behalf of WN, AWP, PvdA and NT, February 10, 2021)

On the dike around the nature reserve De Nek, between Schellinkhout and Wijdenes, HHNK removed the sheep mesh fencing and posts in early January. This can lead to disturbance of the peace by people and dogs. Why was this done? How does this fit into our policy regarding biodiversity? Has there been contact with the manager of the nature reserve? What measures are you taking to prevent disturbance? (Franke Hoekstra, February 2, 2021)

Why is the tax burden for farmers in our area proportionally the highest in the whole of the Netherlands? What opportunities does the new tax system offer to bring this tax burden more in line with those for farmers within other water boards? When the 2022 budget is presented to the General Board, will you make a proposal to achieve this? (Frank Frowijn and Simon Ruiter, February 2, 2021)

The use of geotextiles can lead to the release of microplastics into the environment. What is HHNK doing to prevent or control the spread of residual geotextiles? How many hydraulic engineering projects have used geotextiles in the past two years? Can you give an indication of the amount of geotextiles used? What alternatives are there to using geotextiles? Have you considered using these alternatives in the past two years? (Luuk Zaal, Jan. 19, 2021)

Do you recognize the increasing incidence of nuisance and damage to waterways and watersheds by rodents and crayfish in the outlying area? Is the extent of this damage known? What is HHNK doing to combat nuisance and damage caused by animals? Can this topic be put on the agenda of the Water & Roads Committee for exploration?

Are you familiar with the STOWA report Quality Drainage of Stormwater in the Netherlands (2020). Can this report be shared with the CHI? How does HHNK monitor stormwater runoff? What does this report mean for the five regional implementation agendas (Spatial Adaptation Vision)? (Arnold Langeveld, January 17, 2021)

In the weekly mail we received the letter from the Union of Water Boards and the Minister about the national wastewater monitoring COVID-19 at rwzi's. Can HHNK comply with the Minister's request? When will the sampling at our rwzi's take place seven times a week? (Peter Vonk, Jan. 8, 2021)