Discharge of wastewater into small ditches and waterways prohibited as of January 1, 2026
In 2024, the Water Board Regulation stipulated that, as of January 1, 2026, a discharge ban on wastewater would apply to small ditches and waterways (known as secondary and tertiary water). In recent years, a transition period has applied to this. The ban has been introduced to improve water quality and keep the water clean and healthy. This is important for people, nature, agriculture, and recreation. As this date is fast approaching, the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Authority (HHNK) is drawing extra attention to it.
Prohibition applies to various situations
The ban concerns the discharge of domestic wastewater from, for example, toilets, showers, or kitchens of a company or group accommodation via an existing treatment facility into a small ditch or watercourse (so-called secondary and tertiary water). From 2026, this will no longer be permitted if it involves the discharge of wastewater from six or more people. If it only concerns a discharge from a private home, this ban does not apply. If it concerns the discharge of domestic wastewater from a business or accommodation in which more than one family resides, the ban does apply. The exact conditions of the discharge ban can be found in the Water Board Regulation.
Check whether this prohibition applies
More information about when and in what situations this ban applies can be found on the HHNK website. It is important to know what type of wastewater is involved, the size of the discharge, and the specific type of surface water into which it is discharged. If the ban applies, the discharger must find the right solution. This could involve connecting to the sewer system or, after local storage, processing the wastewater at a sewage treatment plant, storage, and transport to a certified waste processor via a tanker truck. Every situation is different. It is therefore important that the situation is checked, the right solution is determined, and the necessary authorisation permits are arranged.
Every step counts for clean and healthy water
Jos Beemsterboer, portfolio holder for integrated water management: “Clean and healthy water is important to all of us, for people, animals, and nature. We are working together with many different parties in many different ways to achieve this. This also applies to domestic wastewater. As a result, water quality has improved over the past decades. But every step, big and small, is necessary to further improve water quality. That is why HHNK has decided to include this discharge ban in the Water Board Regulation of 2024."
For more information, see the pages Prohibition on wastewater discharge and Water Board Regulations.