Waternet's drinking water turnover rose from €97 million in 2022 to €141 million in 2025, according to Vewin, the Dutch water companies' association. Most of the increase came in one year: turnover reached €133 million in 2023, when the average residential rate rose 25.1%.
A cut, then rises
For 2026 the residential rate fell 5.4% to €2.09 per m3, as Waternet passed back a positive 2024 result. Dutch law requires drinking water to be supplied at cost, without profit or loss. The city expects the cut to be one-off, with tariffs rising again after 2026 to pay for the capacity growth requires. The 2027 tariffs had not been announced at 4 November 2026.
Borrowing before the split
Loans outstanding more than doubled from €39.4 million at the end of 2017 to €90.3 million at the end of 2022, as reported in the water board AGV's accounts. The overdraft drawn was €16 million at the end of 2022. Under the pre-split arrangement, Amsterdam and AGV stood behind any deficit in proportion to the tasks assigned, with AGV's share at 37%.
New spending lines
Since 2022 Waternet has spent €1 million a year extra to filter PFAS and €2 million a year extra on digital security. Its largest published project, a second slow sand filter at Weesperkarspel, carries a works estimate of €54 million.
Waternet split from the water board on 1 January 2026, so its first stand-alone accounts will reset these figures. How that split changes who buys what, which tenders are open and where suppliers should focus first are among the questions the brief answers. The full report, Waternet: Utility Account Brief, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the Waternet Utility Snapshot.