Water policy in the Netherlands will become increasingly complex in the coming years, with problems that affect the entire country. This is evident from research by the Deltares knowledge institute. Summers are increasingly plagued by droughts, while winters are becoming wetter and sea levels continue to rise. “These problems will not only occur at the end of this century, but also in 26 years’ time,” says Renske de Winter, climate expert at Deltares and author of the new Delta scenarios.
Dutch water policy ’causes serious problems in the future’
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De Winter emphasizes the difference with previous scenarios. ‘We are already seeing major drought periods, such as in 2018, in which various sectors in the Netherlands were seriously affected by water shortages.’ Moreover, last winter fits in with the picture of increasingly wetter winters. ‘And prolonged precipitation, such as during the Christmas period, creates challenges with water drainage.’
Greater, growing imbalance
There is a larger, growing imbalance between the availability of freshwater and the increasing water demand, De Winter explains. ‘This is partly due to climate change, which puts pressure on the availability of water.’ But the growing water demand, due to higher temperatures and population growth, also contributes to this.
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This study is also in line with this autumn’s KNMI scenarios, says the climate expert. ‘Rising sea levels lead to salinization in delta areas such as the Netherlands. And this in turn has consequences for various sectors in our country that depend on freshwater.’
‘Big task’
On Wednesday, Deltares presented the results of the research to the minister and the Delta Commissioner. “They also recognize that we are facing serious problems and that action is needed to improve the water system,” says De Winter. The Netherlands has a unique system, in which the Delta Commissioner has his own budget to ensure that our water system remains safe, ‘but it will be a major challenge’.
‘Keeping our water system safe will be a major challenge’
According to De Winter, it is important that measures are devised and implemented in a timely manner, and that there is coherence between different regions to prevent hassles about water use. ‘These problems have also been going on for 26 years.’
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