STOWA

Stichting Toegepast Onderzoek Waterbeheer

Description

STOWA (Dutch acronym for the Foundation for Applied Water Research) was founded in 1971. The foundation coordinates and commissions research on behalf of a large number of local water administrations. The bodies which contribute to the STOWA are the 26 water boards, the provinces and the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Soon after the foundation of the STOWA the benefits of joint research programmes readily paid off: duplication of work could be reduced; strategic planning of research over a longer time span (looking several years ahead) was made possible because money was guarantied; considerable money could be saved through centrally coordinating and planning of research Water managers were closely involved and communication between water managers from different agencies was enhanced; the general knowledge about water management augmented.