Presentation by Mr. Dijkhuis, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment in Netherlands, during the Workshop on Water allocation, water economics and eflows in River Basin Management

1. India-EU Water Partnership
Workshop on Water Allocation, Water Economics and Eflows
In River Basin Management
14-15 September 2016, New Delhi

2. Water scarcity in the
Netherlands
Workshop on Water allocation, water economics
and ecological flows in River Basin Management
New Delhi, 14 September 2016
Luit-Jan Dijkhuis MSc
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3. Content
• Introduction
• Policies and legislation development
• Strategies for sustainable freshwater supply
• Water governance
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5. Policy and legislation development
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6. River Rhine and Meuse Catchment
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7. Overview
1976 – Most severe drought in recent Dutch history
1985 – National policy document on water management
– Water Act 1.0
2003 – Renewed attention for water scarcity
2009 – National Waterplan 1.0
– Water Act 2.0
2010 - Start Delta Programme
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8. Driving forces
• Climate change
• Growing population
• Expanding economy
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9. Effects
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No fresh water supply possible
Water demand > water
availability
Salt water intrusion in freshwater
system
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10. Conclusion
1. The Dutch water system, management and policy reached their limits
2. Develop strategies for sustainable freshwater supply in the Netherlands
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11. Strategies for sustainable freshwater supply
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12. National objectives
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13. • Freshwater is a shared responsibility;
• Freshwater strategy is adaptive to climate change
• Introduction of supply levels
• Intensify economic and effective use of freshwater
• Accept water shortages more often
Policy development
National Waterplan 2.0
moderate
rapid
squeeze
growth
Steam
WarmRest
Busy
climate change
socio-economicdevelopment
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14. Supply levels
– The availability of freshwater and the probability of water shortages
in a certain area, under normal and dry circumstance
– Creating transparency, predictability and an action strategy for
freshwater consumers
– Evaluation in 2018 and in 2021
agreement on supply levels
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15. Water Governance
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16. Administrative bodies
• National
– Ministry of infrastructure and the environment
– Rijkswaterstaat
• Regional
– Provinces
– Water board
– Municipalities
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17. Conflict management water scarcity
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Normal situation
Indication water scarcity
Serious water scarcity
Severe water scarcity

18. Priority list water scarcity
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Category 1
Safety and
prevention of
irreversible damage
1. Stability of dikes
2. Soil compaction
(peat)
3. Nature (ecological
flow)
Precedes
Category 2
Public Utilities
1. Drinking water
2. Energy production
3. Precedes
Category 3
Small-scale use with
high added value
• Temporary
irrigation of
capital-intensive
crops
• Process water
Precedes
Category 4
Other uses
(economic
considerations)
• Shipping
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Nature
• Recreation

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