This National Water Programme describes the main features of the national water Policy and the management of national waters and waterways, addressing several challenges facing the country in the field of water through an integrated approach covering various sectors: climate change, land subsidence, environmental pollution, loss of biodiversity, outdated infrastructures. his National Water Programme, thus concerns: a safe and climate-proof delta, with flood defence measures; a competitive, sustainable and circular delta, for good freshwater supply; a clean and healthy delta with high-quality groundwater, for a sustainable use of water resources. This National Water Programme is structured as follows: introduction; main aspects of water Policy implementation; principles for the use of the physical living environment. Part A: national water Policy, including: climate adaptation; water safety; freshwater distribution; water quality, drinking water and water treatment; groundwater; water and living environment; nature; agriculture; soil and subsoil; urbanisation; energy transition and sustainability; industry. Part B: management and implementation, including: clean and healthy water; safe traffic over water; swimming water; cultural heritage protection; recreational water use; fish stocks and fisheries management; security and crisis management. Part C: water areas, including: north sea; southwest delta; Rhine-Meuse estuary; rivers and channels management.
Targeted actions of the Programme concern: safeguarding flood risk management and climate resilience; impact of climate change on water resources management and related climate adaptation measures; transition to sustainable energy supply; drainage measures; creation of protected areas along the main rivers; measures to ensure fresh water supply and to address drought; improvement of navigation and sustainable river mobility system; strengthening biodiversity and ecosystem protection, including marine ecosystem in the North Sea; transition to a circular economy approach in agriculture; measures to improve soil fertility and reduce soil pollution and degradation; improvement of water storage capacity of agricultural land; use of water for irrigation and other agricultural purposes; use of fertilisers in compliance with water resources protection and conservation; preservation and enhancement of landscape natural qualities.