Possible new measures to prevent consequences News item
News item | 17-08-2022 | 20:18
It is dry in the Netherlands. Occasional and usual showers provide limited relief for a number of days. The drought and its effects are expected to expand further from next week.
The differences in the Netherlands are large. In the east, south and Zeeland, the effects are most acute for shipping, agriculture and nature. In certain places also for groundwater use restrictions are sometimes imposed. The pre-established measures are numerous, such as locking on the basis of supply and demand at the Eefde lock and allowing fresh water to pass through the Hagestein weir against salinization in the Lek and Hollandsche IJssel.
The Water Shortage Management Team (MTW) has decided on two measures that have been further developed in the west and drought in the east.
Measures Amsterdam-Rhine Canal
Two measures are being taken to prevent the expansion of the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. The first is activating the bubble screen. This is a tube at the bottom of the North Sea Canal near the Zeeburg pumping station. The air bubbles from the bubble screen raise the salt water. This then ends up in the freshwater flow that flows from the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal towards the North Sea. Thus, the salt water is held back and flows back to the North Sea Canal.
The second measure is the installation of the power plant near Diemen for the transit of water from the Markermeer to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal. Transit through the power plant can help to combat.
Measure Boven-IJssel
Rijkswaterstaat will set up one-way traffic on the Boven-IJssel for all shipping from a minimum sounded depth (MGD) of 1.45 metres. This is possible because of the falling water levels on the IJssel. This makes the fairway smaller and it is no longer possible to sail safely in two directions.
Shipping from Germany to Kampen and the Twente canals will have to circumnavigate the Waal, the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and the IJsselmeer after these measures come into effect. Recreational boaters can choose to use the Randmeren. Because of the water levels, the Waal is the optimal route. Rijkswaterstaat has chosen this route so that the water level in the dams in the Lower Rhine can be maintained.
Reaction Michèle Blom, chairman MTW
With all our might we can make the effects of the drought possible. We are happy with all the thinking and doing power of all our partners and future ones. The regional differences in the effects of the drought in the country are large. It remains important to realize that the measures are per region.
About the Water Shortage Management Team (MTW)
The Water Shortage Management Team (MTW) becomes active when there is a real national water shortage (scaling up level 2). The MTW consists of Rijkswaterstaat, water boards, drinking water companies, provinces and the ministries involved (LNV, EZK and IenW). They keep preparatory national and supraregional measures for water distribution as optimal as possible.