Drenthe is currently struggling with relatively low groundwater levels, concludes the Vechtstreams and Drents Overijsselse Delta (WDODelta) water boards.
Where years ago the winter mainly revolved around the drainage of water, in recent years the opposite has been the case. Water boards try to retain as much water as possible and get it into the groundwater.
“The groundwater level in our area is currently relatively low,” says spokesman Martin Hilferink of Vechtstromen. “During the winter we are constantly working on a risk analysis. We want to keep the water here as much as possible, but in case of heavy rainfall we have to prevent our feet from getting wet. That is why we try to retain the water in the capillaries as much as possible. for example on the streams, we make them shallower, but wider.”
As far as precipitation is concerned, Vechtstromen does see a surplus, but that is a lot lower than normal. “Around this time of the year we normally have a precipitation surplus of 240 millimetres. Now this surplus is 93 millimetres,” says Hilferink. “When it comes to the groundwater level, the traffic light is orange. But when do you turn red? You can’t predict that.”
According to the Vechtstromen spokesperson, the water board is not yet taking any measures in the form of restrictions for water users. “However, the call is to help us retain the water as much as possible. So rather green gardens than concrete. Because water that disappears directly into the sewer is of no use to us.”
They also see the groundwater levels falling rapidly at the WDODelta water board. Spokesman Herald van Gerner: “We had an average amount of precipitation in November. We had a lot of precipitation in the second half of December and the first half of January in particular, as a result of which the groundwater levels rose to normal values almost everywhere. But since mid-January, there is little rainfall, which means that the groundwater levels have also fallen quickly. As a result, the situation is now relatively dry for the time of year.”
Van Gerner looks ahead with hope: “Some precipitation is forecast again next week. Given the groundwater levels, we try to buffer and retain this water as much as possible. The best medicine against low groundwater levels is precipitation. Directing water is traditionally in our genes, unfortunately not sending it again.”