Netherlands: EU bank supports water safety and quality investment

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 120 million loan agreement with the Dutch local water authority Waterschap Hollandse Delta (WSHD).

The loan will support the water authority’s investment programme, concerning the reinforcing of dikes in its area of responsibility, investments in waste water facilities as well as works to provide sufficient and clean water in ditches and canals.

“The water authorities in the Netherlands are often little-known by the greater public, but fulfil an immensely important role in managing the ever present water in the Netherlands and protecting the country from flooding”, says EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom. “In 2008 a new Delta Plan was adopted to safeguard the Netherlands from flooding also in view of the effects of climate change, we are glad that we can support the Hollandse Delta water authority in making the necessary investments in that framework."

“Climate change leads to ever more extreme weather, such as dry summers and heavy rainfall”, says the water authority’s chairman Jan Geluk. “The Water Authority has the responsibility to protect the citizens in its area against floods and to avoid any other kind of hindrances from water. This loan allows us to fulfil our tasks to the benefit of the residents in the southern part of the Province of Zuid-Holland.”