This afternoon, water managers in the Netherlands will meet to discuss the drought. They may scale up to drought phase 2, where there is an official water shortage. What does that mean and where does the drought come from?
During drought there is a shortage of fresh water. This flows into our country via the Rhine and the Meuse, or falls from the air during precipitation.
The risk of drought increases from spring. Then the temperature rises, making it easier for water to evaporate. There is also less rain and less water enters the country via the rivers. Thus, demand increases while supply decreases.
The drought is not equally severe every year, but if there is a major precipitation deficit, the drought can become a concern. If this is the case, consideration should be given to the distribution of the water.
The water is distributed via a smart system of weirs, locks and pumping stations. Large water reservoirs, such as the IJsselmeer and the Markermeer, are of great value. In those lakes the water can be held, to be pumped through the land in times of drought.
The IJsselmeer is the national ‘rain barrel’ of the Netherlands. This lake provides the water supply for North Holland, Flevoland, Friesland, Groningen and parts of Overijssel, Drenthe, Gelderland and Utrecht.
Drought can affect water quality. If it is warm for a long time and less water flows through the rivers, the chance of bacteria increases. Blue-green algae can also grow more easily. Blue-green algae can make animals and people sick.
Another danger of drought is increasing salinity. This means that there is too much salt in the water and in the soil. In extreme drought, salt water from the sea can displace the fresh water in the rivers.
There is also a risk that salt water will rise in the groundwater and thus end up in the soil. And that is bad for agriculture. You can see exactly how this works in the video below.
At the moment it is very dry in the Netherlands. Salinization is occurring in the western Netherlands and in many places it is difficult to keep the water level at the desired level. The water quality is also low in many places. There are reports of blue-green algae and fish kills.
That is why Rijkswaterstaat, KNMI, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Union of Water Boards are meeting to decide whether drought phase 2 should be announced. This would mean that there is an official water shortage in the Netherlands. This last happened in 2018, and before that in 2011.
In such a water shortage, water managers have to be picky about where the fresh water goes first. Agreements about this have been made in the Water Act. This so-called ‘displacement series’ is already being used in some regions.
The displacement series says that flood defenses and dikes are the first to receive water. Extreme drought can cause cracks in dikes and damage to flood defences.
Drinking water and an undisturbed energy supply then have priority. Power plants use water for cooling. Finally, there are other interests, such as shipping, agriculture and recreation.
Blue-green algae can make people and animals sick.
Blue-green algae can make people and animals sick. Photo: Rob Engelaar
Of course, that does not mean that those sectors are suddenly without water. Above all, it means that we have to be more aware of our water. After all, there is a shortage. For example, drinking water companies call on their customers to use water economically.
Water managers can take many other measures to combat the drought. For example, in May the water level of the IJsselmeer was raised. Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards also pump extra water to the west of the country.
The water managers will announce at 4 p.m. whether the drought level will be scaled up.