Weather and Water Management course is celebrating its 20th anniversary: an excellent combination!

A celebration isn’t complete without a treat. The same goes for the Weather and Water Management course, which has been a success for 20 years at Wateropleidingen. Former participants and guests were invited to participate in a free refresher course on September 19. Prior to the event, we spoke with the ‘founding fathers’ of the course: Arnold Lobbrecht and Gerrit Hiemstra. What key insights do they want to pass on to water managers?

Radar images as a rain gauge

The origin of the Weather and Water Management course lies not with Wateropleidingen, but with STOWA, as a rare exception. Water expert Arnold Lobbrecht recalls that people at STOWA pointed him to meteorologist Gerrit Hiemstra. “You two should meet,” was the advice. From this meeting, a project was launched, commissioned by STOWA, to see how the two fields could complement each other. “We wanted to use radar images as a kind of rain gauge,” Hiemstra explains. “By adding up the images from a certain area, you should be able to tell how much rain has fallen.” The project results were promising, and the radar images turned out to be excellent for feeding hydrological models. Lobbrecht adds: “For operational people at water boards and municipalities, the combination of meteorology and water knowledge is valuable. A water level manager can look beyond just the ditch and the sky. After the project in 2002, we developed a course to share this knowledge.”

Under the banner of Wateropleidingen

After organizing the course themselves several times, Lobbrecht and Hiemstra contacted Wateropleidingen. Hiemstra notes, “Wateropleidingen specializes in education and training programs and is deeply embedded in the water sector, with a strong reputation and a wide reach. So it seemed like a good idea to join forces with them.” Ingrid Schröders from Wateropleidingen explains the unique structure of Weather and Water Management: “The course isn’t ours, and we don’t control its content. But the instructors are professionals with practical experience, which aligns perfectly with how we operate. People come to Wateropleidingen for a current program that reflects what they experience in the field.”

The full spectrum

Lobbrecht explains that the course was set up to cover the full spectrum of weather: “How weather develops, how it influences precipitation or drought, and its impact on water availability and thus water management. The advantage of such a broad approach is that it shows the connections.” Climate change quickly becomes a focal point in the discussion. The Weather and Water Management course aims to help water managers prepare for the major challenges that arise from it. Hiemstra adds, “The course is more relevant than ever. Our water system was designed based on the climate of the past, but that no longer exists. We are facing extremes like drought and heavy rainfall, pushing us to our limits. This could lead to emergency situations that water managers might not yet fully grasp.”

Climate adaptation

Despite the serious and urgent nature of the course material, Hiemstra emphasizes that it doesn’t burden participants with a grim or confusing message. “We provide practical perspectives, showing them what they can do in their work.” Lobbrecht also notes that the water sector is increasingly realizing that the old methods are no longer effective. “We need to adapt,” he says. “That’s where the term ‘climate adaptation’ comes from. The protection levels we used to rely on may no longer be feasible. You need to communicate this without making people feel defeated.”

Passing the baton

While Lobbrecht and Hiemstra have enjoyed teaching the course, they decided about six years ago to pass the baton to the next generation. Young meteorologists from Weather Impact, the meteorological consulting firm they co-founded in 2014, now teach the course. Similarly, young hydrologists from HydroLogic, founded by Lobbrecht in 2000 to support the water sector with IT solutions, also teach. Wateropleidingen, as experts in didactics, supports these practical scientists in mastering the art of teaching. “How do you convey the knowledge you apply every day and continuously develop?” The high marks from participants—a solid nine—prove the instructors are succeeding. Schröders adds, “We believe in keeping a finger on the pulse, so we always evaluate our courses and programs to ensure they continue to meet the needs of practitioners.”

Interpreting weather forecasts

Stefan Ligtenberg, from Weather Impact, has taught the course about ten times. He shares his primary goal: “I want participants to understand how a weather forecast is constructed and how to interpret it. We mainly have practical people in class, those working for water boards and municipalities. They receive instructions from colleagues at the office, like whether to open or close a lock. When these practical workers understand how such decisions are made, and that there’s also something like probability forecasting, they will better understand why the weather sometimes doesn’t turn out as expected.”

Learn today, apply tomorrow

Since 2004, when the Weather and Water Management course was incorporated into Wateropleidingen, 245 people have taken it. The structure is still similar to 20 years ago: a blend of meteorology and hydrology, with practical tasks like making a weather report and learning to use a rain gauge. Ligtenberg also emphasizes the increased focus on climate change. “We also cover projects we’re involved in at Weather Impact and HydroLogic.” This daily practice perfectly aligns with Wateropleidingen’s mission: ‘keeping your water knowledge up to date.’ Schröders adds, “We cater to a niche market. Our instructors deeply understand what participants experience daily and tailor the content accordingly. How great is it that what you learn today, you can apply tomorrow?”

The refresher course, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Weather and Water Management course, was attended by 25 former participants. It was inspiring to reconnect and gain new insights. Are you curious if the Weather and Water Management course could be beneficial for you or your organization? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.