Drought

A sufficient water supply in every season is no longer always a given. Due to climate change, we are facing longer periods of drought, higher temperatures, and greater demand for freshwater more frequently. Water authorities cannot always prevent water shortages from occurring with measures alone. In the future, we will need to become increasingly adept at adjusting to periods of drought and their consequences. That is why we must all use freshwater sparingly and wisely. It is a good idea to think about what a period without surface water and rain means for you and how you want to deal with it.

What is a drought? And when is there a water shortage?

A drought occurs when rainfall is less than the amount of water that vaporises. In the Netherlands, this happens almost every summer. Usually, this does not cause any immediate problems.

If the drought continues, the soil will become increasingly dry. Plants and crops need water from the soil to grow. When there is a shortage of water, crops grow less well, nature can suffer damage, and the groundwater level drops.

A water shortage occurs when the demand for surface water exceeds the available supply. This can be caused by a prolonged drought, but also by a reduction in the amount of water that can be supplied—for example, if the water level in lake IJsselmeer becomes too low.

In other words: drought can lead to a water shortage, but a water shortage can also have other causes.

How our water system works: the supply from lake IJsselmeer

We rely on lake IJsselmeer for the supply of freshwater in our management area. This lake is the Netherlands’ most important freshwater reservoir and supplies water to large parts of the country during dry periods. Lake IJsselmeer can store more than 400 million cubic metres (160,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools) of water.

Lake IJsselmeer does not have an unlimited supply of water. If the water level drops too low, less water—or even no water at all—can be supplied. This results in a water shortage. How the available water is allocated in such a situation is regulated at a national level by the priority sequence.

Priority sequence

The priority sequence is a fixed sequence that determines how scarce freshwater is allocated in the Netherlands during severe droughts and water shortages. This sequence helps water managers make decisions when there is not enough water for everyone. In addition, we have established regional agreements on this matter.

Who gets priority when there is a water shortage?

If there is not enough water available, the water managers determine who gets it first. To do this, they use the priority sequence. This is a lawfully established order of priorities.

Categories of the priority sequence

The priority sequence consists of four categories. Category 1 has the highest priority.

Category 1. Safety and nature

Water management focuses first and foremost on preventing damage to dykes and protecting vulnerable natural areas. This refers to damage that is irreversible.

Category 2. Drinking water and energy

In addition, sufficient water is needed to produce drinking water and for a reliable energy supply.

Category 3. Major economic activities

Next, priority is given to activities where a small amount of water can prevent significant damage. Examples include irrigating valuable crops or process water for industrial purposes.

Other important functions

Finally, it is the turn for other important functions, such as shipping, agriculture, and recreation. This is how water managers ensure that available water is distributed as efficiently as possible during droughts.

or watch the video from Rijkswaterstaat:

What are the risks of drought and water shortages?

Agriculture

A water shortage can lead to a shortage of freshwater. To ensure that sufficient freshwater remains available, it may be necessary to stop flushing watercourses or to impose a ban on water extraction. As a result, less or no water will be available for irrigation.

Damage to the natural environment

Nature can suffer serious consequences from drought. A shortage of water can cause permanent damage to natural areas. It also increases the risk of forest fires, for example. When we allocate available water, we take vulnerable natural areas into account.

Water quality

When it’s dry, it’s often warmer as well. These are ideal conditions for blue-green algae. Blue-green algae can be harmful to your health, which is why swimming is sometimes discouraged. That’s why we keep a close eye on water quality. We test the designated swimming spots every two weeks. You can find out where it’s safe to swim at zwemwater.nl.

In addition, there may be less water available to flush out the ditches. As a result, salinisation is increasing in the watercourses in the northern part of the area. Salinisation means that more salt enters the water. Too much salt can be harmful to plants and crops. That is why we closely monitor water quality and the availability of freshwater.

Fish mortality

Drought causes water levels to drop and is often accompanied by higher temperatures in ditches, rivers, and lakes. As a result, the amount of oxygen in the water decreases, and watercourses and fish passages can dry up. This can lead to fish deaths and damage to the underwater ecosystem.

Water safety

A prolonged water shortage can affect the safety of flood defences. When dykes and flood embankments dry out, the clay or peat layer shrinks, which can cause cracks to form. These cracks can reduce the stability of the flood defence. Peat dykes, in particular, are susceptible to drying out and deformation during dry periods. Therefore, we inspect the dykes regularly during prolonged periods of drought.

What do we do during a drought?

We're trying to retain water
We keep a close eye on water quality
We mow and carry out maintenance
Every summer, we inspect the flood embankments

Droughts are more frequent: be prepared

The climate is changing. This means that the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events are increasing. This has consequences for the availability of freshwater.

What can you do yourself?

Use water wisely; find out what you can do at Water butts
Think about what a period without rain and with little surface water means to you, and the steps you can take to preserve water.
Please let us know if you plan to irrigate by emailing info@noorderzijlvest.nl or calling our front office at +31 (0)50-304891.

What is the current drought situation?

Water situation

Would you like to know more about the latest developments regarding drought? In our water situation, we keep you updated on the current situation.

Drought monitor

Would you like to know what the drought situation is like in the rest of the Netherlands? Check out the Drought Monitor of the National Coordination Committee for Water Distribution (LCW). This monitor provides an up-to-date overview of the drought in the Netherlands, including its impact on water management, shipping, agriculture, and nature. View the Drought Monitor of Rijkswaterstaat.