Urgent Measures Required by RIVM to Avert Shortage of Drinking Water.

To prevent a shortage of drinking water in 2030, a package of measures must be taken quickly. This is urgent, because some drinking water companies already have too few reserves. RIVM writes this in a new report that confirms previous reports.

Water must be retained for longer and larger water resources must be created, for example by storing more water in the dunes or basins. Alternative water sources must also be developed, such as the extraction of drinking water from brackish or salt water and from sewage. Drinking water companies that need more capacity almost immediately are Waterbedrijf Groningen, Vitens (in Friesland, Overijssel, Gelderland, Utrecht and Flevoland) and Dunea in the western part of South Holland.

The demand for drinking water will certainly be much greater in 2030 than it is today, the RIVM writes. It is expected that 1.4 billion cubic meters will then be needed, 100 million cubic meters more than in the reference year 2020. This is partly because the number of inhabitants and the economy will have grown by then, but also because of climate change: in warmer summers, more drinking water is needed, while there is less available due to drought.

The government wants it water use per person in 2035 has dropped to 100 liters per day. Drinking water is made from surface and groundwater and it is not certain whether there will be enough water to make drinking water from in seven years’ time. Even now, the reserves are sometimes exhausted in the summer, as happened in Gelderland, Overijssel, Groningen and parts of South Holland. All parties involved in drinking water, such as water supply companies, water boards and provinces, are urged to start new extractions now.

An imminent shortage can be resolved by taking various measures at the same time, the RIVM advises. In addition to conscious and economical water use and longer retention of fresh water in our country, new extraction locations must be sought, permits must be expanded and the buffer capacity must be increased in the dunes and basins. In addition, the purchase of drinking water from abroad can be considered.

Alternative sources are also important. Several initiatives are already underway in this area. For example, Waternet is conducting research into the use of brackish seepage water from the Horstermeerpolder. In a joint project, drinking water companies are looking into whether it is possible to purify sewage water into drinking water.

Limburg is looking at how rainwater can be collected and purified into drinking water. Several water companies infiltrate surface water deep underground. A stock is created there that can be used during a long period of drought.

Vewin, the trade association of water companies, is pleased with the RIVM report. It underlines the emergency call that the sector already made earlier. “Without prompt action from the parties involved, and in particular from the provinces, more and more regions will face bottlenecks in ensuring the drinking water supply. As a result, it is not guaranteed that the intended new homes in all provinces will be provided with drinking water in time,” says Vewin. .

The RIVM report ends with a warning and appeal to all parties involved: “Many bottlenecks cannot be solved completely in a simple way. Drinking water companies experience long, difficult procedures when realizing new extraction capacity. That is why an extra joint effort and dialogue is necessary between drinking water companies, provinces, the national government, water boards and other stakeholders in order to meet the rising demand for drinking water in 2030.”