Regarding legal provisions, the European Water Framework Directive and its
daughter directives provide the overarching legal principles. The main legislation
that incorporates the national needs is the “Water Act”, which integrated various
acts related to water and is in force since 22 December 2009. Several other legislations, such as the Water Supply Act and the Water Authorities Act, regulate the
specificities of different sub-sectors of water.
Given the fact that the Netherlands is a delta country, the governance of water
towards managing floods and protecting the society and the environment against
flood damages, hence the “dry feet” policy, has been the ultimate priority of the
Dutch water managers. Central government and water authorities are the two key
actors that share the responsibility for flood protection. Despite the high priority on
flood protection, the goals and priorities of the Dutch water management are quite
diversified. This diversification can be attributed to the increasing pressure from the
weather extremes associated with climate change as well as other relevant concerns
such as the provision of sufficient drinking and irrigation water; protecting the
quality of water resources; managing the level and quality of groundwater; and
managing the complex web of waterways. The increasing attention for drought
resilience, the core subject of this book, is a good example of this diversification.
8.3 From National Mechanisms to Regional Policies:
Agricultural Needs and the Effects on Drought
8.3.1 National Policies and Mechanisms Related to Drought
Adaptation
As outlined in the previous section, the water management system in the
Netherlands involves various organizations from multiple policy sectors that
Table 8.1 Tasks, organizations and financing mechanisms of the Dutch water management
system
Task
Organization
Financing
Flood protection, water quantity and
water quality (main system)
Central government
General resources, pollution
levy on national waters
Groundwater
Provinces
Regional tax
Flood protection, water quantity and
water quality (regional)
Water authorities
(public)
Regional tax
Wastewater treatment
Water authorities
(public)
Regional tax
Drinking water supply
Drinking water
companies
(semi-public)
Price
Sewerage
Municipalities
Local tax
Source Dutch Water Authorities (2015)
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
161
daughter directives provide the overarching legal principles. The main legislation
that incorporates the national needs is the “Water Act”, which integrated various
acts related to water and is in force since 22 December 2009. Several other legislations, such as the Water Supply Act and the Water Authorities Act, regulate the
specificities of different sub-sectors of water.
Given the fact that the Netherlands is a delta country, the governance of water
towards managing floods and protecting the society and the environment against
flood damages, hence the “dry feet” policy, has been the ultimate priority of the
Dutch water managers. Central government and water authorities are the two key
actors that share the responsibility for flood protection. Despite the high priority on
flood protection, the goals and priorities of the Dutch water management are quite
diversified. This diversification can be attributed to the increasing pressure from the
weather extremes associated with climate change as well as other relevant concerns
such as the provision of sufficient drinking and irrigation water; protecting the
quality of water resources; managing the level and quality of groundwater; and
managing the complex web of waterways. The increasing attention for drought
resilience, the core subject of this book, is a good example of this diversification.
8.3 From National Mechanisms to Regional Policies:
Agricultural Needs and the Effects on Drought
8.3.1 National Policies and Mechanisms Related to Drought
Adaptation
As outlined in the previous section, the water management system in the
Netherlands involves various organizations from multiple policy sectors that
Table 8.1 Tasks, organizations and financing mechanisms of the Dutch water management
system
Task
Organization
Financing
Flood protection, water quantity and
water quality (main system)
Central government
General resources, pollution
levy on national waters
Groundwater
Provinces
Regional tax
Flood protection, water quantity and
water quality (regional)
Water authorities
(public)
Regional tax
Wastewater treatment
Water authorities
(public)
Regional tax
Drinking water supply
Drinking water
companies
(semi-public)
Price
Sewerage
Municipalities
Local tax
Source Dutch Water Authorities (2015)
8 Drought Awareness Through Agricultural Policy: Multi-level …
161