What are you paying for?

What does the regional water public authority do with your tax money?

You pay water authority taxes so that you can live and work in safety. And to enjoy yourself on and around water. See what Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht does with your tax money.

Wastewater treatment

All the dirty water that comes from residents and businesses is what we call wastewater. The regional water public authority cleans this water in our wastewater treatment plants. In water treatment plants, we remove waste and harmful substances from water. It is then returned to nature. This is how we make sure that the water in our area is clean. Because the cleaner the water, the better for people and the environment.

• Every day, the regional water public authority cleans 343 million of litres of dirty water.
• This takes place in 11 treatment facilities.

Protection against water

Checking and improving dykes and embankments are 2 of the main tasks of the Regional Public Water Authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht. We live in a densely populated area with a lot of water below sea level. Moreover, due to climate change, there are increasingly more short and heavy rainstorms, causing water levels to rise in canals, rivers and channels, for example. Thanks to the dykes and embankments, we are able to live and work safely in our area. Because strong dykes protect our area from flooding. The regional water public authority also uses your tax money to contribute to safe dykes across the country.

• There are more than 1100 kilometres of dykes and embankments within the jurisdiction of the regional water public authority.
• The regional water public authority protects more than 1.4 million people from water.

We make sure that there is enough water.

It is important that everyone has access to the right amount of water. Not too much, and not too little. During droughts or when it rains a lot, we supply water in a smart way. Is there too much water in a certain area? Then our pumping stations will pump out water. Too much water can cause problems, such as basements that flood. Or fields that get too wet. They are also at risk of flooding. Pumping stations and sluices are needed then. Is there not enough water in a certain area? Then the water authority lets extra water to flow into the area. Not enough water causes problems for agriculture and shipping, for example. Moreover, natural reserves may dry up.

• There are 59 sluices and 231 pumping stations within the area of the regional water public authority.

Caring for the supply of healthy water

Making sure that water is clean is very important. This concerns the water you see around you outdoors. For example, the water you can sail on or swim in. In ditches, canals and lakes, plants and animals need to be able to shelter, spawn, mate and breed in the water and along the banks. When water is clean and healthy, more species of animals and plants can live in it. Clean water is both good for people and nature.

• Regional Public Water Authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht measures the water quality of 30 large bodies of water.
• Samples are taken at around 500 locations every month.

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