FAIR

FAIR Pilot project KIJK

12 December 2018 - Published by Eric Boessenkool
After a successful three years designing, dike reinforcement project KIJK reached a milestone in October 2018. The board of directors of HHSK, a regional water authority based in Rotterdam, decided on the next step. The preliminary design has large support by stakeholders like municipalities and the public.

In the three years period local residents and businesses and several stakeholders were continuously informed and asked for their input.

This resulted not only in knowledge that could enrich the insights of the design team - but also led to the strong involvement of residents and other stakeholders.

In order for them to give their opinion on the preliminary design, this was the was published a few months earlier this year.
About 60 separate reactions were received and some of these led to changes in the actual design.

Broad perspective

The project is situated along the river Hollandsche IJssel. The dike along the river protects the inhabitants of the entire Krimpenerwaard polder, lying two meters below sea level, from flooding.

The design started three years ago with the adoption of a broad perspective on the design. Dike strengthening was not the only option. Other measures around the river, like a more reliable storm surge barrier, can be part of the required safety system as well. 

After studying all these options it was concluded though, that a dike reinforcement remained necessary in combination with an optimized water system.

Study the external effects

Because of these (and other new insights, Rijkswaterstaat (RWS) and HHSK started project WHIJ (Water safety Hollandsche IJssel), to further study the external effects for the coming decades. External effects are in the likelihood of climate change and the optimum combination of measures for flood defense on the Hollandsche Ijssel.

Also, project KIJK only delivers the first ten km of approximately 30 km of necessary dike strengthening along the river.

Both projects KIJK and WHIJ contribute to project FAIR as pilots for the strategic investment planning and asset management, which can be optimized for the flood defense along the Hollandsche IJssel.broad perspective