The first KIVI activity of 2020 was a theme afternoon on the effects of drought on our water management and hydraulic works. About 50 interested parties had come to the KIVI headquarters at Prinsessengracht in The Hague. After a warm welcome by chairman Bas Jonkman and Erik de Bruine of the Construction and Hydraulic Engineering Department, we started with a look back at the very dry year 2018 by the chairman of the National Coordination Committee for Water Distribution (LCW) Bart Vonk. Bart took us back to that dry summer of 2018 and how people dealt with the sparse water. It was borderline at times but no major issues went wrong. It also quickly became clear to the audience that in managing such a calamity, communication can make whether you succeed or fail. The LCW also learnt from 2018 that will enable us to manage such a drought even better in the future. After this retrospective, we zoomed in on two effects of drought: the effect on flood defences and on foundations. Bart Vonk first presented the effects on flood defences, showing shocking images for hydraulic engineers of observed large clay cracks in dike revetments. Reverse piping can also suddenly occur at low river levels. In 2018, we were alert to this and, above all, monitored a lot. The number of repairs needed was not too bad in the end.

After the break, it was up to Mandy Korff of Deltares and TU Delft to take us a little deeper into geotechnical engineering. Effects on foundations usually occur over a longer period of time due to uneven settlement or rotting wooden piles. Not much quantitative information is available on the actual damage to buildings caused by these mechanisms. A study published in klimaatschadeschatter.nl gave a start on this. For really accurate damage estimates at district level, it is still too early; more research and more data are needed. At the municipal level, however, the data are useful and correspond well with reports to the KCAF.

Finally, Rob Bouman, Drought Policy Table project leader, presented the findings of this Policy Table. Just before Christmas, the policy review was finalised and sent to the minister. The minister sent the report to the chamber a day before this theme afternoon. Fresh off the press, then, but without any major surprises, according to Rob. Earlier, the interim report had been published (phase 1) and the same approach was taken. According to Rob, it was striking that all noses of all stakeholders were in the same direction. There was a sense of urgency and a collaborative mindset. This resulted in 46 recommendations, all of which were invested in an action holder. By following these recommendations, we are even better protected against drought in the future. The next step is that now the regions will make a regional elaboration. Because according to Rob, a lot can be solved for drought in the region itself.

Presentations are available on the KIVI website. The presentation 'Introduction' includes some links for interesting reports and a podcast.

The summer of 2018 was exceptionally dry, so dry that groundwater levels sunk far and did not fully recover during winter. 2019 also started relatively dry and ended up being slightly drier than normal. This drought affects a variety of functions, two of which we will discuss in this theme afternoon: effects of drought on dykes and the effects on foundations.

During this afternoon, we will look back at the past two summers from the perspective of the National Coordination Committee for Water Distribution (LCW) and update you on current developments from the Drought Policy Table. In September, this policy table published its draft advice with 22 recommendations, which we will explain during this afternoon.

The speakers are all directly involved as policymakers or experts on the topic of drought. During the afternoon, there will be plenty of room for questions to the speakers and reflection on the advice of the Policy Table Drought.

Objective:

  • Raise awareness of the importance of drought in construction and hydraulic engineering

  • Inform on effects of drought on dikes

  • Inform on effects of drought on foundations

  • Learning from drought years 2018 and 2019

  • Inform on policy process around drought

  • Discussion on proposals/made choices policy table drought.

Programme:

13:30 Welcome and introduction by Erik de Bruine

13:45 Review of drought year 2018 and 2019

Bart Vonk, LCW (national coordination committee on water distribution) / Rijkswaterstaat

14:15 PM Effects of drought on flood defences

Bart Vonk

14:45 Coffee break

15:15 Effects of drought on foundations

Mandy Korff, Deltares

15:45 The Policy Table Drought

Rob Bouman, leader of the Drought Policy Table, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment

16:15 Room for interaction/discussion

16:45 Closure and drinks in foyer

Documents