Country Profile Regulation Tariffs The Netherlands is a country in northwestern Europe. With a territorial area of 41 thousand km2 is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. It borders Germany to the east and Belgium to the south, having a North Sea coastline to the north and west. The country is divided into twelve provinces, which are further subdivided into 342 municipalities (gemeenten). Country Overview Year Figure Population 2022 17,703,090 Country Area (km2) 2021 41,540 GDP (billion USD) 2022 991.11 GDP per capita (USD) 2022 55,985.4 World Bank Income Group 2021 High Income World Bank Region 2021 Europe and Central Asia Source: World Bank Data - Netherlands Water and Wastewater Sector Structure Water and wastewater sector in the Netherlands is shared between several stakeholders. Regional water authorities, municipalities, and drinking water companies are the prominent actors in this sector, each of them with concrete tasks and responsibilities. Regional water authorities manage about 350 wastewater treatment plants (WTP) for treatment of wastewater delivered by municipalities. They charge a wastewater fee, along with a pollution tax. Wastewater collection is a responsibility of municipalities which need to ensure that wastewater discharged within their territory is collected into public sewer and transported to the WTP. The drinking water supply is managed by ten drinking water companies. Nine out of ten water companies are public limited companies, with municipalities and provinces as shareholders. One company, Waternet, is established as a non-profit foundation and it’s the only water company that is also in charge of the municipal wastewater system in its service area. On average, water companies cover an area of a few regional water authorities and up to 50 municipalities. Authority Level Role Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management National Responsible for national water policy and the agreement with other policy areas (spatial planning, environment, etc.) Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) National On behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, ILT supervises tariff setting process and its alignment with the Drinking Water Act. National Water Authority National Responsible for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of the main infrastructure facilities in the country. Regional Water Authorities Regional Also known as water boards, they are autonomous and decentralized public authorities that manage regional water systems. They are responsible for treating the wastewater delivered by municipalities. These 21 water authorities operate in areas defined by their physical drainage characteristics. Administrative Provinces Regional Twelve provinces supervise regional water authorities, develop groundwater plans and regulations. Municipalities Local Responsible for wastewater systems and wastewater (and often stormwater) collection and transport to the wastewater treatment plants run by regional water authorities. Drinking water companies Regional Provide drinking water services and operate under private law with public shareholders. Number of WSS Service Providers 10 Ownership Public Service Type Water Geographic Scope Regional Water supply sector is governed by the Drinking Water Act. It stipulates that the public shareholders of the drinking water companies – provinces and municipalities – are primarily responsible for establishing water tariffs and supervision of water companies’ work. The General Meeting of Shareholders, composed of municipalities and provinces in the company’s service area, is in charge of approving the water tariff structure, produced and submitted by the water company. In order to do so, water companies need to fulfill a number of requirements established in the Drinking Water Act. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) supervises the drinking water sector, on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, and reports on the performance of the drinking water companies. ILT is also advised by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markt (ACM), which annually examines the establishment of tariffs. Legislation and Policies Year Description Water Act 2009 A single legislation on water management that combined previously fragmented water laws. Facilitates integrated water management and designates responsible authorities in the sector. Drinking Water Act 2010 Regulates the organization and supervision of the drinking water sector. Regional Water Authorities Act 1992 Defines regional water authorities as public bodies entrusted with the task of implementing water management in particular areas. Environmental Management Act 1993 Assign municipalities with the responsibility for the collection and transportation of wastewater. It obliges municipalities to ensure that wastewater discharged within its territory is collected in a public sewer and transported to the wastewater treatment plant. Utilities Date Tariff Waternet 2023 Tariff Vitens 2023 Tariff A more complete list of tariffs can be found at IBNET Tariff Database - Netherlands