With two-thirds of the Dutch population living below sea level, droughts can quickly become a major problem in the country, leading to silting up of rivers and complicating water traffic. Another problem arises from the drying up of the dams – water pressure is needed to maintain strength.
“We have been seeing increasing dryness in the Netherlands for several weeks due to evaporation in our country and very low river flow from abroad,” Michele Blom, spokeswoman for the country’s Public Works and Water Administration, said.
Now barges on the lower Rhine – an important route for transporting coal from Rotterdam inland to German steel mills and electricity producers – are less than half operational.
At the same time, the groundwater level is falling in the north of the country, which leads to algal blooms and the death of fish. Although it is noted that this does not affect drinking water.
Water districts are urging the Dutch to conserve water, while the southern provinces of Zeeland and Limburg are asking farmers not to use surface water for irrigation.
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