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Safe clean sufficient

Together we keep the water clean

Summers many people have fun in and on the water in North Holland such as while canoeing, supping, swimming and boating. Through our 15 modern sewage treatment plants, we purify all the dirty water from your toilet, sink or shower. Then it flows cleaner into the ditches.

Clean and healthy water

People are often unaware of the importance of water and the effects of behavior on water quality. This summer we want to raise awareness and contribute tips on how you yourself can contribute to clean and healthy water. Water flooding is something you really notice. Water quality is less visible but important for our health and for flora and fauna.

For example, don't use poison near water, use water sparingly, don't flush junk (such as grease, wipes, tampons and lenses) down the toilet, clean up trash and wash your car in a car wash. This is how we keep (surface) water clean together.

What do we do?

The Hoogheemraadschap, with its 15 sewage treatment plants, treats the wastewater of all households and businesses in North Holland above the North Sea Canal up to and including Texel. We ensure that the water that 1.4 million residents flush down the toilet and drain every day ends up back in the ditch cleaner. We also do this for about 30,000 companies in our area.

Watch below in our new video how we purify micropollutants from wastewater.

What can you do?

Do you think cleaner water is important too? Then you can do something yourself to contribute: don't flush trash down the drain, flush only the 3 p's down the toilet (poop, pee and toilet paper) and clean up litter before it ends up in the water. Want to know what else you can do? 

Go directly to our tips!

But what actually happens when you flush the toilet or shower?Because the contaminated water then ends up at one of our sewage treatment plants. In the video below, we show you how wastewater treatment works at a sewage treatment plant (rwzi).

Also read the inspiring stories of Water Bosses, people who live very water-conscious lives with small adjustments.
Get some ideas!

Events, tips and inspiration

  • Photo contest fall edition

    How are you experiencing autumn in North Holland? Grab your camera or smartphone and capture the most beautiful, wettest or stormy moment.

  • Coloring contest

    Print the coloring page, color it and send it in by Nov. 30. And win great prizes!

  • Historical lectures

    On Nov. 5 and 26, historian Diederik Aten talks about the 1916 flood disaster. On November 12, he will talk about the Hondsbossche Zeewering.

  • InstawalkHHNK

    During the Instawalk on Nov. 28, 20 "hobby photographers" with many followers on Instagram will visit the Zaangemaal.

  • Exposition Murderer's Breakthrough

    Photographer Loek Buter reconstructs events that have left scars in the landscape, such as the Killer Massacre near Warder.  

  • Water Stories by The Dutch Historian

    The gentlemen from The Dutch Historian will give a historical lecture on the 1799 invasion and reclamation of the Wieringermeer on December 11.