News item | 03-04-2023 | 09:02
The RIVM study published today into the water availability for drinking water supplies up to 2030 provides insight into the demand for drinking water now and in the future. The study endorses the signals from the drinking water companies that additional use of water resources is needed in the short term. In order to be able to meet the demand for drinking water, drinking water companies are working with governments to look for opportunities to fully utilize existing sources and to search for new sources for drinking water.
RIVM recommends that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the VNG, the IPO, the drinking water companies and Vewin think together about reducing bottlenecks in water availability.
In order to realize the extra production capacity in the short term, an Action Plan for Security of Drinking Water Supply is being drawn up. Vewin and IPO do this together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to guarantee water availability for the supply of drinking water in the period between now and 2030. Minister Mark Harbers reports this in a letter to the House of Representatives.
In order to guarantee the drinking water supply in the short term, it is expected that measures will also be taken that do not contribute to the ambition to increase the robustness of the (ground)water system. As mentioned earlier in the Water and Soil steering letter to parliament, drinking water interests are given priority where necessary and under strict conditions.
Efforts will also be made to save water in the coming years. Because it is not yet known how quickly this ambition will lead to a reduction in drinking water demand in practice, the calculation of the required supply capacity is based on current drinking water consumption. Further recommendations from RIVM are in line with activities that are already being carried out through, for example, the Water Availability Dialogue under the Delta Program on Fresh Water.
Minister Harbers: “We must have sufficient drinking water available, now and in the future. At present, drinking water companies cannot always meet the full demand for drinking water, for example at peak times during drought. We want to solve these bottlenecks with the action plan. That requires something from all of us, for example by using our drinking water sparingly.”