The Association of Regional Water Authorities

The General Assembly is the highest organ of the Association and meets 4 times a year. Each regional water authority has a representative in the General Assembly. Daily management rests with the executive committee, consisting of 6 members elected from and by the General Assembly.

A number of permanent committees, in which all regional water authorities have a representative, are charged with the coordination of working groups. Thanks to this organisational structure the Association is kept up to date with all developments that take place within the regional water authorities, which is a prerequisite for the promotion of their interests in Brussels and The Hague.

The Association of Regional Water Authorities employs around 55 people. The general director functions both as the secretary and the executive officer of the General Assembly. The expenses of the Association, for the majority staffing costs, are funded by contributions from the regional water authorities.

Organisation of the Regional Water Authorities

A regional water authority is governed by its General Assembly, an executive committee and a chairman. The General Assembly consists of representatives of stake-holding organisations and is authorised to make all decisions that are necessary for fulfilling its tasks, such as the annual budgetting and accounting, setting water levels, performing inspections and taxation.

The executive committee consists of a chairman and regular members (the number of which being determined by the General Assembly) and is responsible for day-to-day management and policy preparations. The chairman is charged with promoting the interests of the regional water authority and chairs both General Assembly and executive committee. Like local and national government, the members of the General Assembly are elected by the general public.