The Rivierenland water utility needs to reinforce 342 kilometers of dams along major rivers to ensure they meet the latest safety standards. This can be seen from a test carried out by the water department.
Levees that deviate most from the standard will be tackled first. They are found on the south side of the Waal between Nijmegen and Werkendam and along the Merwede between Gorinchem and Streefkerk.
The Rivierenland Water Board extends over parts of South Holland, Gelderland, Noord-Brabant and Utrecht. It manages most of the levees along major rivers from the German border to South Holland. In total, more than 1,000 kilometers of dikes and quays are within the working area of Rivierenland.
Work is currently underway on 160 kilometers of dams that need to be strengthened.
The latest safety standards assume high water situations could occur up to 2050. Levees must not collapse in case of very high water. Otherwise, more than four million people could drown and the Randstad could be flooded.
According to Rivierenland, the fact that hundreds of kilometers of river embankments fail to meet standards does not mean they are unsafe. However, they must be strengthened in preparation for extreme situations.
The water council presented the test results to the Inspectorate of the Human Environment and Transport (ILT). Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) will present the national security framework to the House of Representatives next year.
