India-EU Water PartnershipWorkshop on Water Allocation, Water Economics and Eflows

In River Basin Management

14-15 September 2016, New Delhi

Water scarcity in the NetherlandsWorkshop on Water allocation, water economics and ecological flows in River Basin Management

New Delhi, 14 September 2016

Luit-Jan Dijkhuis MSc20160914

3 Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment

Content• Introduction

• Policies and legislation development

• Strategies for sustainable freshwater supply

• Water governance

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Policy and legislation development

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River Rhine and Meuse Catchment

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Overview1976 – 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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Driving forces

• Climate change

• Growing population

• Expanding economy

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Effects

No fresh water supply possible

Water demand > water availability

Salt water intrusion in freshwater system

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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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Strategies for sustainable freshwater supply

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National objectives

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• 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 developmentNational Waterplan 2.0

moderaterapid

squeeze

growth

Steam

WarmRest

Busy

climate change

soci

o-ec

onom

ic

d

evel

opm

ent

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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 2021agreement on supply levels

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Water Governance

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Administrative bodies

• National– Ministry of infrastructure and the environment– Rijkswaterstaat

• Regional– Provinces– Water board– Municipalities

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Conflict management water scarcity

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Normal situation

Indication water scarcity

Serious water scarcity

Severe water scarcity

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Priority list water scarcity

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Category 1Safety and prevention of irreversible damage

1. Stability of dikes

2. Soil compaction (peat)

3. Nature (ecological flow)

Precedes

Category 2Public Utilities

1. Drinking water

2. Energy production

3. Precedes

Category 3Small-scale use with high added value

• Temporary irrigation of capital-intensive crops

• Process water

Precedes

Category 4Other uses (economic considerations)

• Shipping

• Agriculture

• Industry

• Nature

• Recreation

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