diff --git a/nlmod/dims/base.py b/nlmod/dims/base.py
index 67be88d2..ce77bd14 100644
--- a/nlmod/dims/base.py
+++ b/nlmod/dims/base.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def extrapolate_ds(ds, mask=None):
         # all of the model cells are is inside the known area
         return ds
     if mask.all():
-        raise (Exception("The model only contains NaNs"))
+        raise (ValueError("The model only contains NaNs"))
     if "gridtype" in ds.attrs and ds.gridtype == "vertex":
         x = ds.x.data
         y = ds.y.data
@@ -453,10 +453,10 @@ def _get_vertex_grid_ds(
     coords = {"layer": layers, "y": y, "x": x}
     dims = ("layer", "icell2d")
     ds = xr.Dataset(
-        data_vars=dict(
-            top=(dims[1:], top),
-            botm=(dims, botm),
-        ),
+        data_vars={
+            "top": (dims[1:], top),
+            "botm": (dims, botm),
+        },
         coords=coords,
         attrs=attrs,
     )
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ def get_ds(
 
     resample._set_angrot_attributes(extent, xorigin, yorigin, angrot, attrs)
     x, y = resample.get_xy_mid_structured(attrs["extent"], delr, delc)
-    coords = dict(x=x, y=y, layer=layer)
+    coords = {"x": x, "y": y, "layer": layer}
     if angrot != 0.0:
         affine = resample.get_affine_mod_to_world(attrs)
         xc, yc = affine * np.meshgrid(x, y)
diff --git a/nlmod/dims/grid.py b/nlmod/dims/grid.py
index 02114672..30f398ce 100644
--- a/nlmod/dims/grid.py
+++ b/nlmod/dims/grid.py
@@ -383,7 +383,9 @@ def refine(
     ds_has_rotation = "angrot" in ds.attrs and ds.attrs["angrot"] != 0.0
     if model_coordinates:
         if not ds_has_rotation:
-            raise (Exception("The supplied shapes need to be in realworld coordinates"))
+            raise (
+                ValueError("The supplied shapes need to be in realworld coordinates")
+            )
     elif ds_has_rotation:
         affine_matrix = get_affine_world_to_mod(ds).to_shapely()
 
@@ -394,7 +396,9 @@ def refine(
                 fname, geom_type, level = refinement_feature
                 if not model_coordinates and ds_has_rotation:
                     raise (
-                        Exception("Converting files to model coordinates not supported")
+                        NotImplementedError(
+                            "Converting files to model coordinates not supported"
+                        )
                     )
                 g.add_refinement_features(fname, geom_type, level, layers=[0])
             elif len(refinement_feature) == 2:
@@ -1418,7 +1422,7 @@ def gdf_to_grid(
         The GeoDataFrame with the geometries per grid-cell.
     """
     if ml is None and ix is None:
-        raise (Exception("Either specify ml or ix"))
+        raise (ValueError("Either specify ml or ix"))
 
     if ml is not None:
         if isinstance(ml, xr.Dataset):
diff --git a/nlmod/dims/layers.py b/nlmod/dims/layers.py
index 744ab665..c31fcc26 100644
--- a/nlmod/dims/layers.py
+++ b/nlmod/dims/layers.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def calculate_thickness(ds, top="top", bot="botm"):
         if ds[top].shape[-1] == ds[bot].shape[-1]:
             # top is only top of first layer
             thickness = xr.zeros_like(ds[bot])
-            for lay in range(len(thickness)):
+            for lay, _ in enumerate(thickness):
                 if lay == 0:
                     thickness[lay] = ds[top] - ds[bot][lay]
                 else:
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def split_layers_ds(
     layers_org = layers.copy()
     # add extra layers (keep the original ones for now, as we will copy data first)
     for lay0 in split_dict:
-        for i in range(len(split_dict[lay0])):
+        for i, _ in enumerate(split_dict[lay0]):
             index = layers.index(lay0)
             layers.insert(index, lay0 + "_" + str(i + 1))
             layers_org.insert(index, lay0)
diff --git a/nlmod/dims/resample.py b/nlmod/dims/resample.py
index 06ec2941..1768b9fe 100644
--- a/nlmod/dims/resample.py
+++ b/nlmod/dims/resample.py
@@ -203,13 +203,13 @@ def _set_angrot_attributes(extent, xorigin, yorigin, angrot, attrs):
             extent[0] = 0.0
             extent[1] = extent[1] - xorigin
         elif extent[0] != 0.0:
-            raise (Exception("Either extent[0] or xorigin needs to be 0.0"))
+            raise (ValueError("Either extent[0] or xorigin needs to be 0.0"))
         if yorigin == 0.0:
             yorigin = extent[2]
             extent[2] = 0.0
             extent[3] = extent[3] - yorigin
         elif extent[2] != 0.0:
-            raise (Exception("Either extent[2] or yorigin needs to be 0.0"))
+            raise (ValueError("Either extent[2] or yorigin needs to be 0.0"))
         attrs["extent"] = extent
         attrs["xorigin"] = xorigin
         attrs["yorigin"] = yorigin
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ def dim_to_regular_dim(da, dims, z):
         # just use griddata
         z = griddata(points, da.data, xi, method=method)
         dims = ["y", "x"]
-        coords = dict(x=ds.x, y=ds.y)
+        coords = {"x": ds.x, "y": ds.y}
     return xr.DataArray(z, dims=dims, coords=coords)
 
 
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ def structured_da_to_ds(da, ds, method="average", nodata=np.NaN):
         if hasattr(rasterio.enums.Resampling, method):
             resampling = getattr(rasterio.enums.Resampling, method)
         else:
-            raise (Exception(f"Unknown resample method: {method}"))
+            raise ValueError(f"Unknown resample method: {method}")
     # fill crs if it is None for da or ds
     if ds.rio.crs is None and da.rio.crs is None:
         logger.info("No crs in da and ds. Assuming ds and da are both in EPSG:28992")
@@ -528,11 +528,11 @@ def structured_da_to_ds(da, ds, method="average", nodata=np.NaN):
                 da_temp = da_temp.assign_coords(x=x, y=y)
 
             mask = ds["area"] == area
-            da_out.loc[dict(icell2d=mask)] = da_temp.sel(
+            da_out.loc[{"icell2d": mask}] = da_temp.sel(
                 y=ds["y"][mask], x=ds["x"][mask]
             )
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Gridtype {ds.gridtype} not supported"))
+        raise (NotImplementedError(f"Gridtype {ds.gridtype} not supported"))
 
     # some stuff is added by the reproject_match function that should not be there
     added_coords = set(da_out.coords) - set(ds.coords)
diff --git a/nlmod/gwf/output.py b/nlmod/gwf/output.py
index 047240e3..5b271b03 100644
--- a/nlmod/gwf/output.py
+++ b/nlmod/gwf/output.py
@@ -305,7 +305,11 @@ def get_head_at_point(head, x, y, ds=None, gi=None, drop_nan_layers=True):
     if "icell2d" in head.dims:
         if gi is None:
             if ds is None:
-                raise (Exception("Please supply either gi or ds for a vertex grid"))
+                raise (
+                    ValueError(
+                        "Please supply either gi (GridIntersect) or ds for a vertex grid"
+                    )
+                )
             gi = flopy.utils.GridIntersect(modelgrid_from_ds(ds), method="vertex")
         icelld2 = gi.intersect(Point(x, y))["cellids"][0]
         head_point = head[:, :, icelld2]
diff --git a/nlmod/gwf/recharge.py b/nlmod/gwf/recharge.py
index 7752ca37..51242dc1 100644
--- a/nlmod/gwf/recharge.py
+++ b/nlmod/gwf/recharge.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def ds_to_evt(gwf, ds, pname="evt", nseg=1, surface=None, depth=None, **kwargs):
     """
     assert nseg == 1, "More than one evaporation segment not yet supported"
     if "surf_rate_specified" in kwargs:
-        raise (Exception("surf_rate_specified not yet supported"))
+        raise (NotImplementedError("surf_rate_specified not yet supported"))
     if surface is None:
         logger.info("Setting evaporation surface to 1 meter below top")
         surface = ds["top"] - 1.0
diff --git a/nlmod/gwf/surface_water.py b/nlmod/gwf/surface_water.py
index ba3828e6..4180714a 100644
--- a/nlmod/gwf/surface_water.py
+++ b/nlmod/gwf/surface_water.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import warnings
+from functools import partial
 
 import flopy
 import numpy as np
@@ -461,12 +462,12 @@ def build_spd(
                 mask = (stage > botm_cell) & (idomain_cell > 0)
                 if not mask.any():
                     raise (
-                        Exception("rbot and stage are below the bottom of the model")
+                        ValueError("rbot and stage are below the bottom of the model")
                     )
             lays = [np.where(mask)[0][0]]
             conds = [cond]
         else:
-            raise (Exception(f"Method {layer_method} unknown"))
+            raise (ValueError(f"Method {layer_method} unknown"))
 
         auxlist = []
         if "aux" in row:
@@ -519,7 +520,7 @@ def add_info_to_gdf(
             measure = overlap.length
         else:
             msg = f"Unsupported geometry type: {geom_type}"
-            raise (Exception(msg))
+            raise TypeError(msg)
 
         if np.any(measure.sum() > min_total_overlap * measure_org):
             # take the largest
@@ -806,7 +807,7 @@ def get_gdf(ds=None, extent=None, fname_ahn=None, ahn=None, buffer=0.0):
     """
     if extent is None:
         if ds is None:
-            raise (Exception("Please supply either ds or extent to get_gdf"))
+            raise (ValueError("Please supply either ds or extent to get_gdf"))
         extent = get_extent_polygon(ds)
     gdf = bgt.get_bgt(extent)
     if fname_ahn is not None:
@@ -851,7 +852,6 @@ def add_min_ahn_to_gdf(gdf, ahn, buffer=0.0, column="ahn_min"):
         A GeoDataFrame with surface water features, with an added column containing the
         minimum surface level height near the features.
     """
-    from functools import partial
 
     from geocube.api.core import make_geocube
     from geocube.rasterize import rasterize_image
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ def gdf_to_seasonal_pkg(
     elif pkg == "GHB":
         cl = flopy.mf6.ModflowGwfghb
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Unknown package: {pkg}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unknown package: {pkg}"))
     package = cl(
         gwf,
         stress_period_data={0: spd},
diff --git a/nlmod/plot/flopy.py b/nlmod/plot/flopy.py
index a3ad93f2..b6be4b43 100644
--- a/nlmod/plot/flopy.py
+++ b/nlmod/plot/flopy.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import os
 from functools import partial
 
 import flopy
diff --git a/nlmod/plot/plot.py b/nlmod/plot/plot.py
index 9af3acb9..cfd86939 100644
--- a/nlmod/plot/plot.py
+++ b/nlmod/plot/plot.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ def data_array(da, ds=None, ax=None, rotated=False, edgecolor=None, **kwargs):
         ax = plt.gca()
     if "icell2d" in da.dims:
         if ds is None:
-            raise (Exception("Supply model dataset (ds) for grid information"))
+            raise (ValueError("Supply model dataset (ds) for grid information"))
         if isinstance(ds, list):
             patches = ds
         else:
diff --git a/nlmod/plot/plotutil.py b/nlmod/plot/plotutil.py
index 8299ef88..d2fadae0 100644
--- a/nlmod/plot/plotutil.py
+++ b/nlmod/plot/plotutil.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ def colorbar_inside(
         cax.yaxis.tick_left()
         cax.yaxis.set_label_position("left")
     if isinstance(bbox_labels, bool) and bbox_labels is True:
-        bbox_labels = dict(facecolor="w", alpha=0.5)
+        bbox_labels = {"facecolor": "w", "alpha": 0.5}
     if isinstance(bbox_labels, dict):
         for label in cb.ax.yaxis.get_ticklabels():
             label.set_bbox(bbox_labels)
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ def title_inside(
         ax = plt.gca()
     if isinstance(bbox, bool):
         if bbox:
-            bbox = dict(facecolor="w", alpha=0.5)
+            bbox = {"facecolor": "w", "alpha": 0.5}
         else:
             bbox = None
     return ax.text(
diff --git a/nlmod/read/ahn.py b/nlmod/read/ahn.py
index bb41bdb5..166ddd95 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/ahn.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/ahn.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def get_ahn(ds=None, identifier="AHN4_DTM_5m", method="average", extent=None):
     elif version == 4:
         ahn_ds_raw = get_ahn4(extent, identifier=identifier)
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Unknown ahn-version: {version}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unknown ahn-version: {version}"))
 
     ahn_ds_raw = ahn_ds_raw.drop_vars("band")
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def _infer_url(identifier=None):
     if "ahn3" in identifier:
         url = "https://service.pdok.nl/rws/ahn3/wcs/v1_0?service=wcs"
     else:
-        ValueError(f"unknown identifier -> {identifier}")
+        raise ValueError(f"unknown identifier -> {identifier}")
 
     return url
 
diff --git a/nlmod/read/bgt.py b/nlmod/read/bgt.py
index ec6d3801..db7b2ef9 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/bgt.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/bgt.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import json
 import time
-import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 from io import BytesIO
+from xml.etree import ElementTree
 from zipfile import ZipFile
 
 import geopandas as gpd
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def read_label(child, d):
         d["label_plaatsingspunt"] = Point(xy)
         d["label_hoek"] = float(positie.find(f"{ns}hoek").text)
 
-    tree = ET.parse(fname)
+    tree = ElementTree.parse(fname)
     ns = "{http://www.opengis.net/citygml/2.0}"
     data = []
     for com in tree.findall(f".//{ns}cityObjectMember"):
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def read_label(child, d):
                     elif child[0].tag == f"{ns}Point":
                         d[key] = Point(read_point(child[0]))
                     else:
-                        raise (Exception((f"Unsupported tag: {child[0].tag}")))
+                        raise (ValueError((f"Unsupported tag: {child[0].tag}")))
                 elif key == "nummeraanduidingreeks":
                     ns = "{http://www.geostandaarden.nl/imgeo/2.1}"
                     nar = child.find(f"{ns}Nummeraanduidingreeks").find(
@@ -301,11 +301,11 @@ def read_label(child, d):
                     elif child[0].tag == f"{ns}Curve":
                         d[key] = LineString(read_curve(child[0]))
                     else:
-                        raise (Exception((f"Unsupported tag: {child[0].tag}")))
+                        raise (ValueError((f"Unsupported tag: {child[0].tag}")))
                 elif key == "openbareRuimteNaam":
                     read_label(child, d)
                 else:
-                    raise (Exception((f"Unknown key: {key}")))
+                    raise (KeyError((f"Unknown key: {key}")))
         data.append(d)
     if len(data) > 0:
         if geometry is None:
diff --git a/nlmod/read/boundaries.py b/nlmod/read/boundaries.py
index 7f417fd8..a7c36c46 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/boundaries.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/boundaries.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def get_provinces(source="cbs", **kwargs):
         gdf = webservices.wfs(url, layer, **kwargs)
         gdf = gdf.set_index("statnaam")
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Unknown source: {source}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unknown source: {source}"))
     return gdf
 
 
diff --git a/nlmod/read/brp.py b/nlmod/read/brp.py
index 8628836c..7824df4e 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/brp.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/brp.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def get_percelen(extent, year=None):
         gdf = gdf.set_index("fuuid")
     else:
         if year < 2009 or year > 2021:
-            raise (Exception("Only data available from 2009 up to and including 2021"))
+            raise (ValueError("Only data available from 2009 up to and including 2021"))
         url = f"https://services.arcgis.com/nSZVuSZjHpEZZbRo/ArcGIS/rest/services/BRP_{year}/FeatureServer"
         gdf = webservices.arcrest(url, 0, extent=extent)
     return gdf
diff --git a/nlmod/read/geotop.py b/nlmod/read/geotop.py
index 568cb2a9..81ce2c0b 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/geotop.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/geotop.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def get_lithok_colors():
         8: (216, 163, 32),
         9: (95, 95, 255),
     }
-    colors = {key: tuple([x / 255 for x in colors[key]]) for key in colors}
+    colors = {key: tuple([x / 255 for x in color]) for key, color in colors.items()}
     return colors
 
 
diff --git a/nlmod/read/jarkus.py b/nlmod/read/jarkus.py
index 90e84895..93e914e4 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/jarkus.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/jarkus.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def get_jarkus_tilenames(extent, kind="jarkus"):
     elif kind == "vaklodingen":
         url = "http://opendap.deltares.nl/thredds/dodsC/opendap/rijkswaterstaat/vaklodingen/catalog.nc"
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Unsupported kind: {kind}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unsupported kind: {kind}"))
 
     ds_jarkus_catalog = xr.open_dataset(url)
     ew_x = ds_jarkus_catalog["projectionCoverage_x"].values
diff --git a/nlmod/read/knmi.py b/nlmod/read/knmi.py
index 630b7001..14a1d817 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/knmi.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/knmi.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def get_recharge(ds, method="linear", most_common_station=False):
             loc_sel = locations.loc[(locations["stn_ev24"] == stn)]
             _add_ts_to_ds(ts, loc_sel, "evaporation", ds_out)
     else:
-        raise (Exception(f"Unknown method: {method}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unknown method: {method}"))
     for datavar in ds_out:
         ds_out[datavar].attrs["source"] = "KNMI"
         ds_out[datavar].attrs["date"] = dt.datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d")
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def _add_ts_to_ds(timeseries, loc_sel, variable, ds):
         # there will be NaN's, which we fill by backfill
         model_recharge = model_recharge.fillna(method="bfill")
         if model_recharge.isna().any():
-            raise (Exception("There are NaN-values in {variable}"))
+            raise (ValueError(f"There are NaN-values in {variable}."))
 
     # add data to ds
     values = np.repeat(model_recharge.values[:, np.newaxis], loc_sel.shape[0], 1)
diff --git a/nlmod/read/meteobase.py b/nlmod/read/meteobase.py
index cf202e6e..a5df07db 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/meteobase.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/meteobase.py
@@ -231,11 +231,11 @@ def read_meteobase_ascii(
         da = DataArray(
             data_array,
             dims=["time", "y", "x"],
-            coords=dict(
-                time=times,
-                x=x,
-                y=y,
-            ),
+            coords={
+                "time": times,
+                "x": x,
+                "y": y,
+            },
             attrs=meta,
             name=foldername,
         )
diff --git a/nlmod/read/regis.py b/nlmod/read/regis.py
index ccee1d37..e573d812 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/regis.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/regis.py
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ def get_regis(
 
     if len(ds.x) == 0 or len(ds.y) == 0:
         msg = "No data found. Please supply valid extent in the Netherlands in RD-coordinates"
-        raise (Exception(msg))
+        raise (ValueError(msg))
 
     # make sure layer names are regular strings
     ds["layer"] = ds["layer"].astype(str)
diff --git a/nlmod/read/rws.py b/nlmod/read/rws.py
index d5fe48fa..05fdedf1 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/rws.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/rws.py
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ def calculate_sea_coverage(
     # determine the closest x and y in the dtm grid
     x_sea = dtm.x.sel(x=xy_sea[0], method="nearest")
     y_sea = dtm.y.sel(y=xy_sea[1], method="nearest")
-    dtm.loc[dict(x=x_sea, y=y_sea)] = dtm.min()
-    seed.loc[dict(x=x_sea, y=y_sea)] = dtm.min()
+    dtm.loc[{"x": x_sea, "y": y_sea}] = dtm.min()
+    seed.loc[{"x": x_sea, "y": y_sea}] = dtm.min()
     seed = seed.data
 
     footprint = np.ones((3, 3), dtype="bool")
diff --git a/nlmod/read/waterboard.py b/nlmod/read/waterboard.py
index fc09c7b4..3434cb76 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/waterboard.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/waterboard.py
@@ -522,9 +522,9 @@ def get_data(wb, data_kind, extent=None, max_record_count=None, config=None, **k
     f = "geojson"
 
     if wb not in config:
-        raise (Exception(f"No configuration available for {wb}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"No configuration available for {wb}"))
     if data_kind not in config[wb]:
-        raise (Exception(f"{data_kind} not available for {wb}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"{data_kind} not available for {wb}"))
     conf = config[wb][data_kind]
     url = conf["url"]
     if "layer" in conf:
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ def get_data(wb, data_kind, extent=None, max_record_count=None, config=None, **k
             url, layer, extent, max_record_count=max_record_count, **kwargs
         )
     else:
-        raise (Exception("Unknown server-kind: {server_kind}"))
+        raise (ValueError(f"Unknown server-kind: {server_kind}"))
     if len(gdf) == 0:
         return gdf
 
diff --git a/nlmod/read/webservices.py b/nlmod/read/webservices.py
index c18969b0..17dbd9d3 100644
--- a/nlmod/read/webservices.py
+++ b/nlmod/read/webservices.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 from owslib.wcs import WebCoverageService
 from rasterio import merge
 from rasterio.io import MemoryFile
+from requests.exceptions import HTTPError
 from shapely.geometry import MultiPolygon, Point, Polygon
 from tqdm import tqdm
 
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ def arcrest(
         for feature in features:
             if "rings" in feature["geometry"]:
                 if len(feature["geometry"]) > 1:
-                    raise (Exception("Not supported yet"))
+                    raise (NotImplementedError("Multiple rings not supported yet"))
                 if len(feature["geometry"]["rings"]) == 1:
                     geometry = Polygon(feature["geometry"]["rings"][0])
                 else:
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ def arcrest(
 def _get_data(url, params, timeout=120, **kwargs):
     r = requests.get(url, params=params, timeout=timeout, **kwargs)
     if not r.ok:
-        raise (Exception(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
+        raise (HTTPError(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
     data = r.json()
     if "error" in data:
         code = data["error"]["code"]
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ def wfs(
     timeout=120,
 ):
     """Download data from a wfs server."""
-    params = dict(version=version, request="GetFeature")
+    params = {"version": version, "request": "GetFeature"}
     if version == "2.0.0":
         params["typeNames"] = layer
     else:
@@ -166,7 +167,7 @@ def wfs(
         # get the maximum number of features
         r = requests.get(f"{url}&request=getcapabilities", timeout=120)
         if not r.ok:
-            raise (Exception(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
+            raise (HTTPError(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
         root = ET.fromstring(r.text)
         ns = {"ows": "http://www.opengis.net/ows/1.1"}
 
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ def add_constrains(elem, constraints):
         params["resultType"] = "hits"
         r = requests.get(url, params=params, timeout=timeout)
         if not r.ok:
-            raise (Exception(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
+            raise (HTTPError(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
         params.pop("resultType")
         root = ET.fromstring(r.text)
         if "ExceptionReport" in root.tag:
@@ -227,14 +228,14 @@ def add_constrains(elem, constraints):
             params["startindex"] = ip * max_record_count
             r = requests.get(url, params=params, timeout=timeout)
             if not r.ok:
-                raise (Exception(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
+                raise (HTTPError(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
             gdfs.append(gpd.read_file(BytesIO(r.content), driver=driver))
         gdf = pd.concat(gdfs).reset_index(drop=True)
     else:
         # download all features in one go
         r = requests.get(url, params=params, timeout=timeout)
         if not r.ok:
-            raise (Exception(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
+            raise (HTTPError(f"Request not successful: {r.url}"))
         gdf = gpd.read_file(BytesIO(r.content), driver=driver)
 
     return gdf
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ def _download_wcs(extent, res, url, identifier, version, fmt, crs):
     if identifier is None:
         identifiers = list(wcs.contents)
         if len(identifiers) > 1:
-            raise (Exception("wcs contains more than 1 identifier. Please specify."))
+            raise (ValueError("wcs contains more than 1 identifier. Please specify."))
         identifier = identifiers[0]
     if version == "1.0.0":
         bbox = (extent[0], extent[2], extent[1], extent[3])
@@ -452,9 +453,9 @@ def _download_wcs(extent, res, url, identifier, version, fmt, crs):
             identifier=[identifier], subsets=subsets, format=fmt, crs=crs
         )
     else:
-        raise Exception(f"Version {version} not yet supported")
+        raise NotImplementedError(f"Version {version} not yet supported")
     if "xml" in output.info()["Content-Type"]:
         root = ET.fromstring(output.read())
-        raise (Exception("Download failed: {}".format(root[0].text)))
+        raise (HTTPError(f"Download failed: {root[0].text}"))
     memfile = MemoryFile(output.read())
     return memfile