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In the Netherlands, we elect the boards of the water authorities every four years. We do this during the water authority elections. But what does a water authority (in our case, Wetterskip Fryslân) actually do?

Tasks of the Wetterskip

The Wetterskip has various responsibilities in the following areas:

Managing and reinforcing dikes and locks
Purify sewage water
Regulate water level
Ensuring clean water

Monitor and protect

A large part of the Netherlands lies below sea level. This makes us vulnerable to flooding. It is therefore important to control the water and protect ourselves against it. This is what the water boards do. The Netherlands has 21 water authorities. In order for the water authorities to perform all their tasks properly, residents pay water authority tax. During the elections, you can influence how this money is spent and what choices the water authority makes.

Water board elections

Do you vote in the water board elections? If so, you help decide who will be on the water board's general board. The general board also includes people from nature organizations and farmers. They are not elected but appointed. This is because water management is also very important to them. Ultimately, the members of the general board are there to serve all residents.

What does the board do?

The general board determines the objectives of the water authority and how to work toward those objectives.
The general board determines the amount of the water board tax.
The general board monitors whether the water board's tasks are being carried out properly.