News item | 24-08-2022 | 20:20
The drought in the Netherlands continues and remains a concern for nature, agriculture, shipping and the economy. Various regional measures are being taken, but a new national measure was taken today by the Water Shortage Management Team.
The amount of water in the Rhine has increased in recent days. The MTW has decided that this water will be used in such a way that lighting is created in various areas and that a number of intended measures will be postponed for the time being. The increasing Rhine supply means, among other things, that the possible measure announced last week to introduce one-way traffic on the IJssel is not expected to be necessary next week.
It has been decided to allow extra water to pass through to the Lower Rhine at the Driel weir in order to increase the water level of the Lower Rhine. Weir Driel is also called the ‘tap of the Netherlands’ because it is one of the points in the main water system where we can distribute water well. This weir always has an important function, but is indispensable in these times. The increased water level on the Lower Rhine can be achieved without this being at the expense of the level in surrounding waters.
In addition to easing shipping, the extra water also prevents salinization. Rijkswaterstaat temporarily opened the Hagestein weir in the Lek last week to create extra counter pressure on the Lek against the influx of salt water. Now that the water level of the Rhine is rising, this creates more counter pressure against the salt water from the sea and the Hagestein Weir can be closed again.
Regional measures
This measure is in addition to other regional measures that are currently underway. In the Veluwe, for example, there is a restriction on the use of groundwater in order to prevent irreversible damage to nature. In this region, spraying bans with surface water already applied. The spraying ban will be extended for the area near the Valleikanaal with effect from 26 August.
On a daily basis, we look at what the various partners in water management can do to limit the nuisance caused by the drought as much as possible.
Chairman of MTW, Michele Blom: “The differences in the Netherlands are still large, as a result of which farmers, agriculture, nature and shipping are more affected by the drought and the measures applied in some parts of the country. The call to everyone to use drinking water sparingly remains in full force.”