Water management - the struggle against water

The Dutch have a saying: "God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands". 

The first defenses against the sea went up some 800 years ago. Today more than 2,400 kilometers of dikes shield the low, flat land—almost half of which lies below sea level—from invasion by the North Sea.

Water management is an important issue for the Netherlands, as due to its low height, approximately two thirds of its area is vulnerable to flooding, while the country is densely populated. 

Natural dunes and man-made dikes, dams, and floodgates provide defence against storm surges from the sea. River dikes prevent flooding from water flowing into the country by the major rivers Rhine and Meuse, while a complicated system of drainage ditches, canals, and pumping stations / windmills keep the low-lying parts dry for habitation and agriculture. 

Dutch Water Authorities (water control boards) are the independent local government bodies responsible for maintaining this system.

The effects of flooding in LEDCs and MEDCs

The effects of flooding in LEDCs

Problems faced in LEDCs which make the effects of flooding worse and flood management difficult:

• Poor quality housing can't withstand flood waters
• Poor infrastructure is easily damaged with roads, bridges and communications destroyed by flooding
• Lack of sanitation and clean water supplies resulting in further loss of life during floods through the spread of diseases such as cholera, dysentery etc.
• Difficult to mobilise rescue teams - lack of funding for training but made more difficult by many areas being isolated during flooding due to damage to infrastucture and inundated by flood waters;
• Little political co-operation between the neighbouring countries - makes it difficult to reduce flood risks by tackling issues in the headwaters of the major rivers;
• The country relies on government aid and aid from other countries - with a lack of money many necessary flood defences can not be constructed
• In order to tackle poverty the government have focused much of their funds on improving exports - again reducing the money available for flood protection.

The effects of flooding in MEDCs

Reasons why the effects of flooding usually less severe in MEDCs and flood protection is better:

• Homes and possessions are able to be insured against flood damage
• Good water and sewage systems are in place providing back up supplies of clean water when local supplies become contaminated - means that disease is not the problem it is during flooding in LEDCs;
• Good infrastructure and communication networks means it is easier to get aid and helpworkers to affected areas increasing survival through rescues and evacuation;
• Planning restrictions are usually in place to discourage new building of houses on floodplain areas or areas prone to flooding;
• Governments in MEDCs are able to invest more heavily in flood defence systems - including channelisation projects; the construction of artifical levees and the development of prediction and warning systems.