The drinking water supply in Tilburg and the surrounding area is no longer in danger. This is due to agreements made between Brabant Water, the province, the Brabant Landscape and the Brabant Environment Federation (BMF).
Companies in a part of Central Brabant threatened to be closed off from the drinking water network when Brabant Water was not allowed to continue pumping up 18 million cubic meters of water per year on the Gilzerbaan. The BMF and the Brabant Landscape wanted to prevent this with a lawsuit, because there would be a threat to the Natura 2000 area De Regte Heide.
They had stepped to court in 2021. The province then gave permission to increase the groundwater extraction on the Gilzerbaan from 14.7 million to 18 million cubic meters per year. This is necessary to be able to continue to deliver enough drinking water to residents and companies in Central Brabant.
Full compensation
The (legal) opposition has been specified now that the extra withdrawal is fully compensated by reducing drinking water extraction in other nature areas with a low groundwater level. Where this happens, it still has to be determined. In the meantime, the province is keeping a finger on the pulse in the situation in the Regte Heide.
A lot has been at stake for all parties involved in recent years. On the one hand, the drinking water supply in Central Brabant threatened to get into trouble. On the other hand, it is very important for the BMF and the Brabant Landscape that nature reserves are not even more threatened. They already suffer from nitrogen, but water extraction also increases the chance of (further) drying out.
The four parties have taken a long time to come together. Rob van Dongen, general manager of Brabant Water: “It is of great importance for the drinking water supply in Brabant that we came out of it together. Because of the lawsuit, the security of supply in the Tilburg region came under great pressure. That is why the court had also decided that during the judgment the licensed withdrawal of 18 million cubic meters could continue.”
“Nature offers the best protection of groundwater.”
“The hand in hand of the drinking water supply and nature is important because drinking water cannot do without nature. Nature ensures that we retain more water in Brabant and that the water is cleaning up the land. Nature offers the best protection of the groundwater and we ultimately make drinking water again. That is also the reason why Brabant Water 1600 hectares of land around water extraction areas naturally manage.”
According to Van Dongen, a ‘carefully process’ has been completed. “We are relieved that we have succeeded in making the drinking water supply safe and to keep an eye on nature. Something like that takes some time. We appreciate the structural cooperation with the province, the BMF and the Brabant Landscape.”
“We work Knoerthard to realize new water extraction sources.”
Van Dongen realizes that nature interests and drinking water extraction are in some areas. “It is our aim to serve those two interests as well as possible and that is exactly what we have achieved. Brabant Water works Knoerthard to realize new sources for Brabant. First, the new source at Kruisland and Brak Grondwater must give space to the drinking water supply. Later drinking water made from seawater will be added.”