Preventing water shortage

We speak of water shortage when there is less water than we need for agriculture and nature. For example, when it is warm for a long time, it does not rain and the river discharges fall below certain values. This situation can have major consequences for the safety of our dikes, the agricultural sector (desiccation of crops), nature (insufficient drinking water for animals), water quality, shipping, industry and energy sector (discharge of cooling water) and foundations of houses.

Fresh water is becoming costly and less obvious. The freshwater supply from the rivers is distributed nationwide to the various freshwater regions. Within the Freshwater Region IJsselmeer Region, the water managers have drawn up a vision in recent years aimed at a fair distribution and economical use of freshwater. Together with Rijkswaterstaat, we looked at how we can distribute the water from the IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes across the Netherlands as efficiently as possible in the future so that we all benefit.

Within our own management area we distribute the available water in accordance with the displacement series established by the province. Also, in situations of actual water shortage, the Agricultural Advisory Committee can advise HHNK on the allocation of limited water supplies among water demanders. In this way possible adverse effects of water shortage are limited as much as possible.

Using dams, locks, pumping stations and pumps, we distribute the available water over our area and ensure the correct water level in the ditches.