The members of RIWA-Meuse are drinking water companies in the Netherlands and Belgium that supply about 7 million consumers. To do this they abstract around 450 billion liters of water from the river Meuse on a yearly basis. The drinking water which is produced from the Meuse is distributed to consumers in areas around Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and The Hague but also parts of the Dutch provinces of Limburg and Zeeland and the Belgian province of West Flanders.

RIWA’s mission is to protect the water quality of the Meuse River basin as a source of drinking water for 7 million people. A well-protected source enables water utilities to produce impeccable drinking water—now and in the future—in a sustainable manner using natural purification techniques. The water quality standards that RIWA strives to achieve are set forth in the European River Memorandum.

RIWA-Maas represents the interests of Dutch and Flemish drinking water companies that use the Meuse River as a source for drinking water production. RIWA-Maas operates through four strategic areas: monitoring and data management, knowledge sharing, collaboration through alliances, and advocacy.   

Monitoring & data management:

RIWA-Maas signals developments and trends that pose a risk to the water quality of the Meuse. This is done in close cooperation with drinking water companies, water laboratories, knowledge institutes, and governments. To ensure the availability of sufficient Meuse water, RIWA-Maas investigates what concrete impact a changing climate has on the production of drinking water.

Knowledge sharing:

Based on facts, RIWA-Maas informs an increasingly broad audience about developments that affect the quality and availability of water in the Meuse river basin. Within the water sector, RIWA-Maas facilitates the exchange of knowledge and developments between drinking water companies and other parties in order to work together.

Working in alliances:

Effective advocacy by RIWA-Maas is achieved by actively working together on joint solutions to reduce pollution and to be prepared for the consequences of climate change.

Advocacy:

At international, national, and regional level in the Meuse river basin, RIWA-Maas represents the interests of drinking water companies. RIWA-Maas does this on the basis of facts, with attractive and inspiring communication tools, and in alliance with others. In doing so, RIWA-Maas focuses on parties that are responsible for the quality and availability of water in the international Meuse river basin or that directly influence it.