Drinking water sector warns it may struggle to keep taps running

Photo: Odi Busman

The Netherlands’ drinking water companies are warning that more sources of water must be found to cope with population growth, economic growth and regional urban expansion, according to research by sector lobby group Vewin.

Without government action to secure more sources, all water firms will face problems guaranteeing supply. Three in 10 suppliers say they already need more capacity, Vewin said.

In particular, drinking water firms say they cannot guarantee that proper drinking water will be available on time for the more than 900,000 new homes that the cabinet wants to build

To meet the challenges, Vewin says more effort must be made to identify, make available and protect new sources of drinking water.

In addition, the quality of existing drinking water sources must be better protected against pollution from industry, farming and households.

Finally, more money should be allocated to finance investments in new production, purification and distribution capacity, Verwin said.

Industry

In May it emerged that water company Vitens had refused requests for drinking water made by ‘several companies’ in Overijssel and Gelderland because of the growing shortage of supply,

The Netherlands’ 10 drinking water suppliers are required by law to provide water for private households and some sectors, including the health service. But this is not the case for industry in general.