Mediation

We were one of the first water authorities to start using mediation to resolve disputes, particularly in the case of objections.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a proven form of dispute resolution in which the parties involved—with the help of a third party, the mediator—try to find a solution to their conflict themselves. This means there is no legally established procedure and no intervention by an appeals committee or judge. An important feature is that both parties decide to participate voluntarily. Under the guidance of the mediator, they discuss their mutual interests and feelings. This creates mutual understanding, enabling them to find a solution together.

Advantages

Mediation has many advantages over formal procedures. First of all, it makes the real cause of the conflict more visible, which makes it easier to reach a lasting solution. In addition, mediation makes it possible to arrive at a customized solution together. Finally, mediation is often cheaper and can be faster than legal proceedings. 

How do we shape mediation?

In order to give structure to mediation, the Mediation Team is active within the water board. This team consists of four employees, two of whom are trained as registered mediators.

Contrary to what the team's name might suggest, cases are not always resolved through 'real' mediation. The team's employees are primarily involved in what is known as 'pre-mediation'. This involves contacting the parties involved in a potential conflict and exploring exactly what is going on. Follow-up steps may include providing information, organizing a meeting with the relevant department, or 'real' mediation. In this way, (potential) conflicts are often resolved at an early stage.

When is mediation used?

We use mediation for all kinds of conflicts. Often these are conflicts that have already reached the stage of an objection or complaint procedure, because that is when the conflict becomes clearly visible. However, mediation is also increasingly being used successfully for conflicts that have not yet reached this stage.

Our experiences with mediation in recent years have been very positive. Approximately 70% of the objections we receive each year are now resolved through mediation.

More information

For more information about mediation, please contact the Mediation Team. They can be reached by telephone on the general number 072 – 582 8282. You can also send an email to mediation@hhnk.nl.