Last summer's drought cost Dutch water boards millions of euros
Drought measures last summer have cost water boards millions of euros, and bans on drawing water from nature are still in force in parts of the country.
Water boards (waterschappen) across the Netherlands spent millions of euros in total on measures against last summer's drought. The costs include temporary pumps, dike inspections, repairs to cracks in dikes, extra mowing rounds and clearing dead fish.
Two water boards put their drought costs at €1 million or more
Euros
Two water boards put their drought costs at €1 million or more (euros). Highest: Vechtstromen (more than, so far), 1,000,000; lowest: Rijn en IJssel (estimate), 300,000; 4 items. Source: The water boards concerned; figures differ in basis, as labelled.
| Item | euros |
|---|---|
| Vechtstromen (more than, so far) | 1000000.0 |
| Hollandse Delta (at least) | 1000000.0 |
| HDSR (so far) | 660000.0 |
| Rijn en IJssel (estimate) | 300000.0 |
Many measures remain in place. Vechtstromen and Rijn en IJssel still have bans on drawing water, so in many places water may not be taken from nature, for example for irrigation. WDODelta has withdrawn its bans. Spokesperson Tom Olsman said the drought is now less of a problem: "There is less demand for water, because the growing season is over."
Vechtstromen's figure comes from a first cost estimate. "It is not over for us yet," said Martin Hilferink of the water board. Its spokesperson said the costs could still rise: "We have no idea yet when the drought will be over." Other costs include keeping water levels high, managing the water supply and high staffing costs.
Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden (HDSR), which manages a large part of the province of Utrecht, said its spending will not stay at the current level. Emergency pumps are still running in its area to supply water, and little water is coming into the Netherlands via the Rhine. Its many pumping stations need more maintenance after "prolonged use under harsh conditions".
Spokespeople for WDODelta and Rijn en IJssel do not expect the costs to fall on taxpayers. "It is hard to say, but we are also building up reserves," the WDODelta spokesperson said. Rijn en IJssel's spokesperson added: "We have set money aside for every part. Drought is already a structural part of our budget."
Groundwater levels are still very low, said Vanya Ginsel, spokesperson for Rijn en IJssel. Groundwater must be replenished as much as possible in winter, and the recent rain is not enough. "We want a lot of rain in the coming weeks and months," she said. "But if possible, not all at once."
waterschap
A water board is a regional public authority responsible for water management in its own area, which is a separate area from the municipalities and provinces. Its main tasks are dikes and flood defences, regional surface water levels, and water quality. Water boards fund their work partly through their own water board taxes, and they are a key part of how the Netherlands manages drought and flooding.
HDSR (Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden)
HDSR is a water board, the type of water authority known in Dutch as a hoogheemraadschap, covering a large part of the province of Utrecht. It manages the regional water system there, including water levels, dikes, and water quality, so during droughts it handles water supply and pumping in its area. The article's reference to its emergency pumps shows this is the role it plays in dry periods.