ABSTRACT
Shortly after crossing the border between Germany and the Netherlands, the Rhine branches out in three branches forming the Rhine delta. The division of water over the branches is controlled by a weir located at the upstream side of the Lower Rhine. Two other weirs are located in the Lower Rhine and Lek for maintaining sufficient water levels. Recent RAMS analysis and inspections of the existing weirs (built between 1960 and 1970 ) shows that a thorough refurbishment or replacement is required. A feasibility study is undertaken to verify whether the present three weirs can be brought down to two. The study considers four spatial levels, starting from the Delta as a system to the location and configuration of the new weir. Detailed evaluation of water level control, using Systems Engineering (SE) and an analytical 1D flow model, shows that two weirs would be sufficient instead of the present three weirs.
