Description

Even though we live in a delta with large rivers, there can be periods of extreme drought in which the availability of fresh water is not guaranteed for everyone who needs it. Major consumers for industrial applications or agriculture are particularly affected.
Besides drought and possible restrictions on crop irrigation, salinisation plays a major role in the western Netherlands, both from the soil and via the New Waterway. In addition, salinisation of the Volkerak-Zoommeer and the opening of the Haringsvliet sluices are being worked on, increasing the pressure of salt in that area. To date, countering salinisation requires by far the largest amount of freshwater, so in case of scarcity in periods of drought, that is where the biggest bottleneck is.
Freshwater supply is the subject of the third debate organised by KIVI in cooperation with the Delta Commissioner in the run-up to the new Delta Programme to be presented on Prinsjesdag

Questions to be addressed in this debate are: what about the availability of freshwater in dry periods and what are the risks of drought? What can the water boards provide, and are growers or companies that need a lot of water in the right place? With KNMI predicting that weather extremes will increase, is the freshwater system sufficiently robust? What about the distribution of drought risks between water boards and users? Can you demand that companies/bodies with high freshwater requirements be fully served even in extreme drought, or is it their own responsibility to ensure a supply of this commodity, as is the case for other commodities?

The concrete case in this debate focuses on the Haarlemmermeer, where a lot of freshwater is needed in certain parts to reduce saline seepage

13.15 h reception
13.45 h starting
15.15 h break
17.00 h drinks

Speaker(s)

Dolf Kern, team member Deltaprogramma zoetwater
Siem Jan Schenk, chairman LTO Noord
Jaap Oldenziel, Air Liquide
Joost Delsman, Deltares
Aad Straathof, Waterschap Rijnland

Location

Museum de Cruquius

Cruquiusdijk 27, 2142 ER Cruquius

Organiser

Construction and Hydraulic Engineering

Name and contact details for information

For more information, please contact Marsha Reubsaet

marshareubsaet@kivi.nl