Frequently Asked Questions About Drought
Drought and Water Shortages
What is the difference between a water shortage and a drought?
- A drought is a phenomenon in which more water is vaporised d over a longer period than the amount of precipitation that falls.
- A water shortage occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply. This can affect both groundwater and surface water. When there are surface water shortages, we cannot supply enough water. This can be caused by drought, but also, for example, because the water level in the IJsselmeer is too low or because elevation differences make it impossible to supply water to all areas.
How does a water shortage occur?
A water shortage occurs when the demand for surface water exceeds the available supply. This can be caused by drought, but also by a reduction in the amount of water that can be supplied—for example, when the water level in the IJsselmeer becomes too low.
What causes droughts and water shortages?
- Changing precipitation patterns.
In the summer, there is less precipitation, and the rain that does fall tends to come in short, heavy showers. The effects are first visible on the high sandy soils (in Drenthe) because there is little or no inflow from the IJsselmeer in this area. - More erratic river flows due to climate change.
As a result, it is becoming increasingly important to allocate the available supply of fresh water wisely. - Increased evaporation due to higher temperatures and more hours of sunshine.
- Growing demand for water.
Agriculture, businesses, and residents are using more and more water, and rising temperatures vaporised are causing more water to be used. This calls for conscious and efficient water use.
When does drought become a problem?
Drought becomes a problem when there is little precipitation over an extended period and there is insufficient water available for people, nature, and agriculture. Drought causes water levels in ditches and streams to drop, and the groundwater level also falls. As a result, nature areas can dry up, crops can suffer damage, and the risk of water quality problems increases. It can also cause the water level in the IJsselmeer to drop, reducing the amount of water we can supply.
To mitigate the effects, Noorderzijlvest retains as much water as possible, supplies additional water where feasible, and carefully allocates the available freshwater. In this way, we strive to ensure that sufficient water remains available even during dry periods. Due to climate change, we are expected to face increasingly longer dry periods in the future. Noorderzijlvest’s ability to mitigate the effects of drought will increasingly prove insufficient in the future.
That is why it is important to use water as sparingly and wisely as possible. So it’s a good idea to think about what a period without surface water and rain would mean for you and how you want to handle it.
How severe is the water shortage in our region?
Follow the latest updates on our web region , via our Water situation.
The online drought monitor provides daily updates on the drought situation in the Netherlands, including information on the precipitation deficit, water levels, and water quality. The drought monitor reflects the actual, current drought situation as compiled by the National Water Distribution Coordination Committee (LCW). The information on the drought monitor is continuously updated via Drought Monitor | Rijkswaterstaat
Water quality
How does drought affect water quality?
When it’s dry, it’s also very hot. These are ideal conditions for blue-green algae to form. Blue-green algae can make swimming in certain areas dangerous. That’s why we closely monitor water quality. You can checkzwemwater.nlto see if it’s safe to swim in a particular area. Read more about blue-green algae.
Water safety
Why is drought dangerous for dykes?
Drought can affect the quality of the turf at dyke . Desiccation weakens the root system and reduces the dyke ’s protection against erosion. In addition, cracks can form in the top layer of the dyke during dry periods.
That is why the Dutch Waterways and Water Management Agency ( water authority )dykes conducts additional inspections during prolonged droughts. If necessary, we take measures to ensure the safety and stability of the dykes .
Freshwater Availability
What do we mean by “freshwater”?
By "freshwater," we mean the surface water found in ditches, canals, lakes, and rivers. This is different from tap water. Water utilities provide tap water, while water districts manage surface water.
For many sectors, such as agriculture, nature, and industry, it is important that this water is not only available in sufficient quantities but also of good quality. Salinity plays a key role in this regard. If there is too much salt in the water, it can make it difficult to use the water for these purposes. That is why not only the quantity of water matters, but also its quality.
Is there still enough fresh water available?
Due to climate change, we are experiencing longer periods of drought more frequently. At the same time, demand for freshwater is increasing due to growth in housing, businesses, agriculture, and nature. As a result, a sufficient supply of freshwater cannot always be taken for granted.
In addition, more and more regions are becoming dependent on the same sources, such as the IJsselmeer. This puts pressure on the availability of fresh water and will mean that, in the future, decisions will need to be made more often about how the available water is allocated.
That is why Noorderzijlvest is working on a robust water system that is more resilient to drought. One way we are doing this is by retaining as much water as possible. Nevertheless, we must take into account that droughts and freshwater shortages may occur more frequently in the future.
More information on 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 through their measures. In the future, we will need to become increasingly adept at customise to periods of drought and their consequences. That is why we must all use freshwater sparingly and wisely. It is therefore 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. More information on drought