Working towards clean and healthy water in Uitgeester- & Heemskerkerbroek
Clean and healthy water. That is the goal of the collaboration between the Province of North Holland, HHNK, the municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest, the site managers PWN and LNH, residents, and agricultural entrepreneurs for the Uitgeester & Heemskerkerbroek. Over the next two years, they will be working to make the water in ditches and canals cleaner. This will create more biodiversity and a pleasant living environment where you can enjoy the water.
Clean and healthy water is important for agriculture, industry, drinking water, and energy supply, and is indispensable for nature in North Holland. That is why these parties have joined forces to improve water quality and strengthen nature.
Plant protection products
The cooperation of agricultural entrepreneurs is crucial in this project. One of the problems is that the water contains too many nutrients and crop protection products. Farmers in Heemskerk are therefore receiving help to reduce the leaching of nutrients and crop protection products into the water. Information is also provided to residents about the use of organic weed control in their (community) gardens. Chemicals, even in small quantities, are very harmful to soil and ditch water.
Farmers manage ditches
More nature-friendly banks will be created in urban areas. Sloping banks are good for biodiversity and water quality. Where possible, ditches will be deepened to make them more suitable for fish and other aquatic animals. Local authorities, water boards, and farmers in the area will also pay more attention to nature when managing ditches. Fish migration routes will be improved to give fish more space. Another measure is to reduce the nutrient content of water entering from the Castricummerpolder by filtering phosphate out of the water. The project is a pilot with scope for new applications, such as dephosphating water with iron sand and using purifying soil mats in ditches.
Promising area
The Uitgeester- and Heemskerkerbroek is one of 14 areas in Noorderkwartier with good prospects for improving water quality before 2027, the deadline set by the European Water Framework Directive. It is expected that clean and healthy water can be achieved in these areas by implementing measures. Clean and healthy water is necessary for the development of a greater diversity of aquatic plants, aquatic animals, and fish.
Area with great diversity
The diversity in the Uitgeester- and Heemskerkerbroek makes the area very suitable as a pilot project from which to learn for the approach in other areas. There are different sub-areas, each with their own problems, opportunities, and stakeholders. Along the inner edge of the dunes is a horticultural area with greenhouses, arable farming, and bulb cultivation. There is an urban area with Uitgeest and Heemskerk as its main centers. There is also a peat meadow area with dairy farms and a nature reserve.
