“The population is growing and the economy is growing. More and more new homes are being built. Drinking water companies are trying to respond to this. But they have little room to actually do so, says Hans de Groene, director of Vewin, the association of water companies in The Netherlands.
Water companies require a government permit to extract water. This permit is issued for, for example, 1 million cubic meters of water. If a water company wants more, a new permit is needed. The government is reluctant to do so, because of the risk of drought and consequences for farmers and nature.
Problem areas
The shortage of drinking water is greatest in West Brabant, Groningen, the The Hague region and south of the IJsselmeer. And if no action is taken, more places will be added in the coming years.
“Drinking water companies have to invest in new water extraction, new infrastructure and new production locations. That’s where things are going wrong because permits are currently not being issued or are being issued much too slowly,” says De Groene.
And once that permit has been obtained, there is often a staff shortage to start construction quickly. “That is also why there is no time to lose. The government must take action quickly. Otherwise we cannot do our work, it is that simple.”
Need more money
Money is also a problem. “It costs hundreds of millions extra per year. We must receive sufficient financing from the minister.”
By ‘financing scope’, De Groene refers to the rule that drinking water companies are barely allowed to make a profit. They therefore have little money to invest. Borrowing everything is also not possible, because banks require that part of the investments be paid for by savings (equity). “The government must give us more space.”
Tags: threat shortage drinking water due government regulations
