Drought: ban on pumping up the Iron Basin expands
The extensive inflation ban is not entirely unexpected: it has rained not or too little for a while. And there were already bans on pumping up in the catchment areas of the Blankaart, the Rivierbeek, the Heulebeek, and the Kerkebeek and for the upstream sections of the Handzamevaart, the Kemmelbeek and the Martjesvaart.
Water refilled
In the meantime, the Yser has been supplemented with water from the surrounding canals. After a sudden drop in the level of the Yser in mid-June, the level stabilized. At the start of the summer there was so much breathing room.
But this month is also warm and dry. “July we started dry and warm,” says Decaluwé. “The already delayed supply comes to a standstill and the water quality decreases. Due to the drought and frequent water withdrawals, there is less fresh surface water in the polder waterways to combat salinization.”
Next Monday there will be a new drought consultation.
