Limits on water from IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes during prolonged drought
If there is no rainfall for a long time, additional water is drawn from the IJsselmeer region. However, this cannot be done indefinitely.
During periods of extreme drought, it is important for residents and businesses in Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Groningen, North Holland, and Overijssel to know how the available water is allocated. The 16 local governments around the IJsselmeer and Markermeer have reached new agreements on this matter.
New arrangements
Agreements regarding the regional implementation of the national displacement series.
Having enough water may seem like a given, but it isn’t. When allocating water, the safety of dykes is dykes , as is protecting nature—which suffers irreversible damage from drought—and ensuring the availability of drinking water. The latter is particularly relevant for North Holland. PWN is the drinking water supplier for a large part of North Holland, and the IJsselmeer is the primary source for drinking water production. The company treats the water and supplies it to over 800,000 households and businesses.
Sufficient water must be available from the IJsselmeer region (IJsselmeer, Markermeer, and Randmeren) to meet these needs. Any surplus water will be available for industry, agriculture, and shipping.
The agreements were signed by Rijkswaterstaat, the provinces of Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Groningen, North Holland, and Overijssel, and the water boards of Amstel, Gooi, and Vecht; Drents Overijsselse Delta, Hunze en Aa’s, Noorderzijlvest, Vallei en Veluwe, Vechtstromen Zuiderzeeland, Wetterskip Fryslân, and the Hollands Noorderkwartier Water Board.
Regional displacement sequence
During the dry summer of 2018, it became clear that the 2009 agreements on water allocation in the IJsselmeer region were no longer adequate. This is because demand for water has increased and periods of extreme drought are occurring more frequently. For this reason, a new “Regional Displacement Sequence” has now been established, setting out how water will be allocated in the event of a potential water shortage.
This document breaks down the national water allocation sequence at the regional level. The sequence specifies which water users will receive water for the longest period and which will be the first to have their supply reduced. The authorities also clarify the order of water allocation for industry, agriculture, and shipping, and explain the rationale behind it. This ensures that everyone knows where they stand.
Final allocation in 2023
The water allocation plan is not yet final. In 2022 and 2023, the relevant agreements will be incorporated into the provincial environmental regulations. Public input will also be possible at that time. If a drought occurs in 2022, Rijkswaterstaat and the water boards will already act as much as possible in accordance with the new agreements. Rijkswaterstaat manages the IJsselmeer and Markermeer, while the water boards are responsible for water distribution in their respective areas. At the same time, the authorities are consulting with users to ensure water is used as sparingly as possible.