‘Drought in the Netherlands is worrying’ | BNR News Radio
Niko Wanders of Utrecht University.
‘The water in the Netherlands comes from Germany, but it is just as warm and dry there as it is here. So we also see that the rivers are slowly sinking down,’ says Wanders. For example, the water level in the Rhine will probably fall to the critical level of 30 centimeters this week. Recent data from the German government shows that today the 30 centimeters are achieved. Below this level it is no longer possible for inland vessels to sail, because they can carry much less cargo. Until at least Thursday, the Rhine would remain near the critical 30 centimeters. At the moment the water level is about 36 centimeters.
Danger to nature
In addition, the extreme drought poses a threat to nature, according to Wanders. And community for the drinking water supply ‘if there is a lot of salinization turnover’. ‘This mainly happens in the west of the Netherlands, where too little water can enter the sea, resulting in salt water entering the country. Another problem that could arise in the long term: the IJsselmeer and the stocks there to provide the Northern Netherlands with water.’
dikes
The dikes in the Netherlands are also sensitive to drought. ‘In 2003 we saw the dike breach at Wilnis, which flooded an entire residential area.’ This dike breach was not the result of bad weather, but the result of a warm summer. During the heat wave of 2003, the ring dike dried out to such an extent that the peat shrank and cracked. “That’s really something that’s very much on the radar and is now being monitored,” said Wanders.
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He continues: We really have a huge shortage right now. In order to get back to normal, it will have to rain for weeks to months. During a ‘normal month’ 80 mm of rain falls. But with a bit of luck, we’ll get to 50mm this month. That’s not too dry. And we see the consequences of that all around us.’
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