Persistent drought: Netherlands announce water emergency plan

In the Netherlands there is growing concern that water is becoming increasingly scarce given the ongoing drought. Agriculture, in particular, must already make savings. The government has now put an emergency plan into effect.

Due to the ongoing drought and its effects, the Dutch government is taking precautionary measures. She initiated an emergency plan to prevent the water shortage from worsening as far as possible.

From now on, a central crisis team is to take over the distribution of the water supplies and propose measures on how to deal with the water shortage. This was announced by Mark Harbers, the Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management – and warned:

Already affecting farmers and ferry traffic

The drinking water supply is still secured, stressed Harbers. But the drought is already making itself felt, for example in shipping or agriculture. In addition to the insufficient rainfall, the periods of drought in the southern countries of Europe also affect the Netherlands, as rivers that flow into the Netherlands from these areas carry less water.

Restrictions for farmers have therefore already been imposed in several Dutch regions. They are no longer allowed to irrigate their fields as intensively as usual. Several river ferries had to stop operating because the water levels were too low. And in Amsterdam, mechanical bridges have to be sprayed with water at high temperatures to prevent them from expanding and locking.

Protecting the dikes is a priority

If the drought persists, more comprehensive measures may need to be taken, Minister Harbers said. The focus here is primarily on nature conservation and the protection of the dikes. After all, about 60 percent of the Netherlands is protected by dikes, dams and dunes. 30 percent of the country lies below sea level and is kept dry by dikes and a system of pumps, canals and mills.

Harbers therefore also urged the population to limit their own water consumption if possible: “Everyone can contribute something. So I ask all Dutch people to think carefully about whether they have to wash their car or fill the paddling pool completely.”

The EU Commission is also pushing for water conservation

The sometimes high temperatures and little rainfall are noticeable throughout Europe this summer. Forest fires caused massive destruction in several countries such as Greece and France. Forest fires also broke out in Saxony and Brandenburg. Spain and Portugal reported hundreds of suspected heat deaths and Britain went on red alert for the first time ever because of the heat.

In view of such developments, the EU Commission wants to persuade the member states to do more to save water. One point here: the countries should increasingly use recycled water, for example to irrigate agricultural land. According to the Commission, 40 billion cubic meters of wastewater are currently treated in the EU every year, but only 964 million cubic meters are reused.

EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius warned: “In times of unprecedented temperature peaks, we must stop wasting water and use this resource more efficiently.” That is why the EU Commission has now issued guidelines with which the use of recycled wastewater is to be increased. Actually, a new EU regulation on water use should not come into force until next June.