ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the historical developments that resulted in present-day regional water systems in the Netherlands and the way in which they are controlled. It describes developments in water-system control and tries to generate an understanding of current water-management problems and the way in which these problems can be solved. An essential element of integrated water management is the water-system approach, which considers the various interrelated elements of a water system and their interactions. A possible effective alternative is to leave the environment unaltered as much as possible and adapt the management and control of the water system in such a way that the requirements of each interest are met adequately. In the Netherlands, for example, the municipalities are responsible for urban drainage, the water boards for surface-water quantity, surface-water quality and sewage treatment, and the provinces for regional groundwater. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
