Sufficient water

The Netherlands is a real water country. With an extensive main water system, a sophisticated regional water system and a controlled groundwater system where possible. Sufficient freshwater is important for our quality of life and economy. It is crucial for the stability of dikes and urban buildings and the drinking water and electricity supply. Sectors such as agriculture, shipping and many industries depend on fresh water for their production. Water-rich nature, the living environment in the city and public health also depend on sufficient freshwater. However, it is not self-evident that there is always enough fresh water of the right quality everywhere.

There are regular showers in the Netherlands. Sometimes so much water falls that sewers cannot process it. Streets are then under water. So you wouldn’t say it, but despite all the rain showers we have, the soil is drying up. This is because the rainwater is immediately drained towards ditches and puddles, and is pumped out to sea. Rainwater therefore does not get the chance to soak into the ground. Therefore, the groundwater is not replenished. The reason that the rainwater is directly drained is to keep our feet dry. But also to keep the lands dry for arable farming and livestock. Arable and livestock farms will benefit if their land is passable again for tractors and cattle as soon as possible after the winter. Because then money can be made again.

Water boards are responsible for water level management in their area. Until 2007, farmers were over-represented on the boards of the water boards. It is therefore not surprising that farmlands were well drained in those days. This has led to soil subsidence, also known as a latch, all over the country. The consequences are especially great in peat areas, because the soil there can never absorb water again after drying out and expand to its original volume. No matter how much water is on it. Part of the subsidence also occurs ‘automatically’; it is the result of the construction of dikes. In the past, subsidence was compensated by the deposition of clay and sand by the major rivers. With each flood, a little sediment was deposited. In the Middle Ages people started building dikes. This prevented rivers from overflowing their banks. For example, the Dutch soil sank further and further below sea level. And this process is still going on. With the construction of the dikes we have, as it were, created our own bathtub!

The Water Board Act came into effect in 2008. This law made the management of water boards more democratic. In general, all residents of a water board benefit from what a water board does. But there are also groups that have specific interests in the water board’s activities. These are farmers, owners of nature reserves and companies. Since 2008, companies and owners of nature reserves also have their own representatives in the general board. As a result, a different management of the outlying area has emerged in recent years. For example, there is more attention to rewetting areas, which creates more variation in plants and animals.

Climate change is causing more extreme weather in our country: more frequent heavy rain showers, but also more frequent periods of drought and heat, which can even lead to a water shortage in the Netherlands. Drought is detrimental to arable farming, greenhouses and horticulture. At the beginning of a dry period, farmers can still spray their land with ditch water, but if the drought continues, the water board will no longer allow this. Water shortages also affect shipping. If too little water is supplied from Germany and Belgium via the Rhine and the Maas, shipping in the Netherlands will be affected. But also the owners of houseboats. In extreme situations, a sailing ban may even have to be imposed. With the arrival of the Delta Program in 2010, extra attention has been given to the shortage of surface and groundwater in the Netherlands. Various measures have been devised throughout the country to ensure that there is sufficient fresh water in times of drought. The IJsselmeer plays an important role in this. This is the largest freshwater reservoir in the Netherlands. If there is too little rain, the Westland in particular suffers from salinization. The salt water from the North Sea passes under the dunes. The crops in the Westland are affected by the saline groundwater. Freshwater is therefore transported from the IJsselmeer to the west. The ditches are flushed with this, so that the salt water is replaced by fresh water. The Northern Netherlands is also dependent on the IJsselmeer water during drought. IJsselmeer water is let in at Lemmer, flows through Friesland and is discharged into the Wadden Sea at Harlingen and Lauwersoog. In times of drought, the Frisian water board transports water to Groningen. The Groninger water board then lets it through to Drenthe in order to cope with water shortages in the Drents plateau. In order to maintain this important role of the IJsselmeer in the future, agreements have been made about raising the water level. In this way, the IJsselmeer also has sufficient supplies during drought to continue to supply the west and north of the country with water. Preventing water shortages is only possible if all governments and users of freshwater make a concerted effort. Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards can improve freshwater supply routes and build up water resources. Large water users, such as some companies, farmers, horticulturists and nature managers, can focus on water conservation. In this way, the Netherlands will continue to have sufficient fresh water in an affordable manner in the long term.

The Delta Program is not only working on measures against water shortages, but also on measures against flooding. Because just as with drought, nuisance also causes nuisance and damage to businesses and residents. There are three main causes of flooding. Too much rain in too short a time, causing water to spill onto the streets or even into buildings in urban areas. Too much supply of river water from Germany and Belgium via the Rhine and the Meuse, causing the dikes along the major rivers to overflow. Water that hits the dikes and dunes from the sea due to strong winds in combination with high water. Within the Delta Programme, the national government, water boards, municipalities and provinces work together with businesses and residents to protect the Netherlands against water shortages and flooding as a result of climate change. In lesson 5 we will discuss flood risk management and in lesson 6 you will learn more about the approach of the Delta Programme. In the next lesson you will learn more about the theme of ‘Water safety’.