HHNK Conducts Drills to Close Off Channels and Locks
From September 21 through 24, we will be organizing various practical exercises for employees, focused on preventing waterlogging or flooding. These exercises will take place at 28 locations spread across the Zaanstreek-Waterland region up to the northern tip of North Holland (see overview map). Over the course of four days, 55 HHNK employees will practice various tasks based on a scenario involving a dike breach. Every year, the water board tests all hydraulic structures, such as locks, cut-offs, and inlets. They verify that the structures are still functioning properly and can be closed quickly in an emergency to ensure water safety. New this year is that all activities are being combined and taking place in the same week.
Arnold Langeveld, member of the HHNK Water Board: “Our dikes protect residents from flooding. If a dike were to fail, it would all come down to our locks, floodgates, pumping stations, and our employees. For example, the storm doors of locks and floodgates are closed manually, but we also desperately need our staff to set up emergency drainage systems. That’s why we regularly organize professional skills drills and inspect and test our water management structures. This way, we’re ready when the water comes.”
Various practical exercises
Various activities are scheduled throughout the area. At five locations, the coupure (an opening in a dike with a road running through it) will be sealed off with bulkheads. To close the coupure, the road will be temporarily closed to traffic during the exercise, with the exception of emergency services. The road will reopen immediately after the exercise. The following openings are involved: De Haukes II (near De Haukes 8), Molenvaart (No. 547 in Breezand), Provincial Road N249/Zijperdijk, Den Oever (Voorstraat 1), and Molenweg (No. 47 in Wieringerwaard).
Temporary emergency pumps and/or systems are being installed at a total of eight pumping stations. Drills are being conducted at locks to close the storm gates. A breach in a dike is also part of the drill. Participants are practicing the deployment of dike tarps, which protect the (simulated) damaged dike during cluster downpours and wave action. Finally, an oil spill will be simulated. HHNK employees will be tasked with deploying an oil boom in the waterway to prevent the oil from spreading further. No oil will enter the surface water during the drill. The various activities will take place throughout the area from September 21 through September 24.
