Water boards are collecting more and more data via a growing number of sensors and are using advanced systems such as Delft-FEWS for forecasting and management. By cleverly combining this data and aligning it locally, they can better manage water levels, traffic flow, energy consumption, drought and water quality. Delta Agents are digital colleagues who help to get a better grip on these complex processes and to provide understandable explanations about what is going on. In this way, they effectively support water managers in their daily work.
On October 30, 2025, HKV is organizing a DigiShape day about, among other things, AI agents and AI Arena. Read more and sign up
HKV employees Mattijn van Hoek, Nicole Jungermann and Bob Maaskant are therefore working with a number of colleagues on the ‘Talk-with-FEWS’ project. This is a specialised AI assistant, a so-called Delta Agent, that provides direct support in the use of Delft-FEWS. The result: a digital colleague who understands the water context, thinks along from your role and provides useful answers within seconds to questions such as: ‘How is this calculated?’ or ‘How did our pumps react to last week’s precipitation?’.
General language models lack the water context
“Language models such as ChatGPT and CoPilot are becoming increasingly active,” says Mattijn van Hoek, senior consultant Products and Services at HKV and initiator of the project. “But a generic model is often not sufficient for complex management questions that a water board faces. You want a model that can use information from internal data sources, water-specific tools and information portals to answer questions.”
That is why he sees an important role for the water sector itself. “It is up to us as knowledge-intensive parties to enrich generic AI solutions with domain knowledge. For example, together with five water boards, we are building AI agents that have a better understanding of the complex water management in the Netherlands. With the name ‘Delta Agent’ we make it clear: this is not a standard Copilot, but a digital colleague who works with and for a specialist in his or her field within the water sector.”
Knowledge process with five water boards
The development of Talk-with-FEWS is taking place in a knowledge process together with the water boards Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden, Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland, Waterschap Scheldestromen, Waterschap Vallei en Veluwe and Waterschap De Dommel and Deltares.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm during the first meeting,” says hydrologist Nicole Jungermann, who bridges the gap between technology and practice in the project. “FEWS is a powerful system with many possibilities, but for new colleagues it sometimes takes a while to figure out how everything works. With this Delta Agent, we make the system more accessible, capture the knowledge of experienced colleagues and support users with their questions, so that specialists can focus on the content.”
Delta Agents make it extra interesting to work in the water sector
The deployment of Delta Agents is also important strategically, Bob Maaskant believes. As an AI policy advisor, he connects the project with broader developments in policy, standards and collaboration. “Delta Agents also make the work more attractive,” he says. “It will be less technical and therefore a lot more accessible. With an AI assistant, you can analyze together, identify bottlenecks and do something with them immediately. You get out from behind your screen much faster and that makes it extra interesting to work in the water sector.”
According to Bob, Talk-with-FEWS is just the beginning. “With this project, we are now creating something beautiful, but it should not end with one application. There are also other models, such as DHydro, that can result in a ‘Talk-with-DHydro’. Ultimately, we are building towards an ecosystem in which multiple agents communicate and collaborate with each other. Other developers can also join in.”
Explainable AI as a precondition
Crucial in the process is trust in the technology. “The water world operates with a social purpose and well-founded choices are crucial,” explains Nicole. That is why explainability of the Delta Agents is a requirement. “If there is water at ground level, so to speak, then as a water board you must already be able to explain how that came about. If you then say: “My AI model didn’t predict it, you won’t get away with it.”
And that makes sense, says Bob, because the interests in water management are high. “It’s about safety, infrastructure, and sometimes even drinking water supply. In such an environment, you must be able to fully rely on what an AI system does. That is why we are also building Explainable AI within HKV. That is a kind of shell that you put over AI applications, so that you can show on the basis of which logic the AI application arrives at an answer.”
Looking ahead: where will we be in a year’s time?
If it is up to Mattijn, Nicole and Bob, Talk-with-FEWS will be operational at all five participating water boards in a year’s time. “At the same time, we want to lay the foundation for a broader movement,” says Mattijn. “In the coming period, we want to develop at least two new Delta Agents from HKV. In addition, we want to further explore with a broader collective within the water sector, hopefully together through the Water Board House, how we can work towards a governance and compliance framework that supports the safe and explainable deployment of Delta Agents in water management.”
Nicole hopes that within a year there will be a clear blueprint for the deployment of Delta Agents – not only in the Netherlands, but also internationally. “My dream is a vibrant ‘App Store for Delta Agents’, in which a community is constantly developing and sharing new applications. And that we ultimately make water management more accessible and understandable for a larger group of people.”
HKV as a driver
The initiative for Delta Agents lies with HKV. Not by chance, Bob emphasizes. “The idea originated here at Mattijn and we know both the technology and the water sector from the inside. As a knowledge entrepreneur in the water sector, we at HKV have the overview and the content to do this. At the same time, we cannot do it alone. We need partners – in terms of technology, knowledge and innovative strength, to arrive at a common framework.”
Participate?
The movement has started and new participants are welcome. “A lot is already happening, also outside our sector,” says Mattijn. “That is precisely why we want to establish a joint framework in the water sector in time. We now have the opportunity to lay a shared foundation, which other parties in the water sector can also flesh out.”
Nicole adds: “Call or email us if you want to test, link or develop together. In this way, we are building one cohesive ecosystem of Delta Agents together.”
Want to know more or join? Please contact Nicole Jungermann or Mattijn van Hoek.
On October 30, 2025, HKV is organizing a DigiShape day about, among other things, AI agents and AI Arena. Read more and sign up
