To ensure sufficient drinking water by 2030, permit procedures must be accelerated and new extraction areas designated. These are key points in a new action plan from provinces, water companies, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
The plan follows a warning from the RIVM two years ago, which stated that a drinking water shortage would occur by 2030 without intervention. At that time, regional shortages were already present, while the demand for drinking water continues to rise.
The involved parties note that the situation has not improved since then. The action plan includes agreements on expedited procedures for extraction areas, identification of new water sources, and the enhancement of knowledge.
Government policies should also better consider water interests. The action plan supplements existing regional plans, which show that many challenges cannot be resolved regionally.
Minister Madlener (PVV, Infrastructure and Water Management) will present the plan later today. In 2021, the average water consumption in the Netherlands was over 128 liters per person.
The previous government aimed to reduce this to 100 liters by 2035. The RIVM’s warning assumed that water demand in 2030 would be over 7 percent higher than in 2020.
Source: NOS