Studies relating to Fresh Water (2022-2027)

Extensive knowledge and experience have already been acquired in the previous phases of the Delta Programme. Examples include the clarification of the freshwater agenda and determining the effectiveness/cost-effectiveness of measures. The results of the studies can be found here. An overview of more recent research, some of which is continuing in the Freshwater Delta Programme Phase 2 (2022-2027) and Phase 3 (2028-2033) can be found here.

Water Availability Knowledge Agenda

The implementation of the Freshwater Delta Plan involves many knowledge questions and innovation challenges: questions about the opportunities and effects of problems with excessive water, shortages and quality, which measures we can best take to cope with them and how we will implement those measures in practice. The Water Availability Knowledge Agenda (Dutch) describes the main knowledge questions involved and how the Freshwater Delta Programme is working on knowledge development and answering knowledge questions. It is updated regularly and it puts new knowledge questions on the agenda on the basis of meetings and discussions with the field. Do you have any suggestions? Please contact: Postbus Zoetwater PostbusZoetwater@minienw.nl. 

Conceptual perspective analysis

The freshwater strategy in place in the Netherlands would not seem to be as sustainable as previously thought. The latest insights from, inter alia, KNMI’s Climate Scenarios and the Deltares Delta Scenarios show that freshwater shortages will increase significantly in the near or distant future. On the basis of four extreme conceptual perspectives through to 2100, this report shows what might be possible and effective in adapting our strategy, in combination with other spatial and sectoral decisions.  

The conceptual perspectives in this report are based on 2100 as the year in which the Netherlands can cope with an extremely dry summer month in line with the most extreme delta scenario: ‘Steam’ (Deltares 2024). Four adaptation strategies have been developed for this purpose: Continuation (continuing with the current approach), Distribution (the north or (south) west is given priority), Management (maximizing freshwater supplies) and Adaptation (reducing freshwater demand as much as possible).  

For all the strategies, we can conclude that far-reaching decisions will be needed to preserve resilience in the long term. These are not potential preferred strategies and there is no intention to choose between these conceptual perspectives. They are used as a basis for the administrative discussion of possible changes and the corresponding administrative responsibility. Read the report (Dutch) here.  

Water allocation when river discharges are low or extremely low

To be prepared for new dry periods and low river discharges, it is important to learn from previous situations. The Freshwater Delta Programme has drawn up maps for this purpose. The maps provide an indication of the allocation of water and the large-scale extraction of surface water in the Netherlands. There are maps for two circumstances: a very low discharge situation with a substantial precipitation deficit of about 270 mm (comparable to August 2022) and a low to normal discharge situation with a precipitation deficit of about 120 mm (comparable to June 2022). The maps can be found on the Informatiepunt Leefomgeving (Dutch).  

Exploratory system analysis of the IJsselmeer area

The IJsselmeer area is the largest freshwater reservoir in the Netherlands. It is of crucial importance as an ecological water system and for Dutch water management. Numerous agendas and interests that are not always compatible are at play in the IJsselmeer area.  

Deltares conducted an Exploratory system analysis of the IJsselmeer area on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. This analysis describes how the water system works, and the developments and challenges, as well as possible solutions and action perspectives. It is based on the available knowledge. The report describes how the IJsselmeer area works on the basis of three crucial functions for Dutch society:  

1. basin storage to protect the hinterland from flooding;  
2. buffers for the freshwater supplies for the Northern Netherlands; 
3. robust aquatic/semi-aquatic ecosystem for nature networks in and around the Netherlands.  

In this report (Dutch), you can read about matters such as the consequences of climate change, sea level rise, growing water demand and sometimes low water discharges in the IJssel river. Examples of those consequences include more frequent and larger fluctuations in water levels.  

The report includes an infographic (Dutch) to visualise the water system. It shows the main functions and the relationships between them.  

Water profile

The 2018 drought did not result in significant damage for industry. However, there were difficulties in several locations. Communications and information are key factors in terms of mitigating damage in the future. The Drought Policy Platform therefore recommended developing the ‘Water Profile’ tool. The aim of the Water Profile is to make information about industrial water use more accessible and therefore to improve the quality of information and decision-making. The final report and associated documents can be downloaded here (Dutch).  

Stress test for the Freshwater Delta Programme Phase II

A stress test (Dutch) was conducted in the IJsselmeer area with the aim of identifying which freshwater bottlenecks will remain once the measures of the Freshwater Delta Plan Phase 2 have been implemented. The stress test took into account new knowledge about lower discharges in the IJssel river, increasing water demand for water level management, and a need for more flushing to counter salt intrusion in the IJsselmeer. It showed that there was increasing pressure on buffers in the IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. In the IJsselmeer area and the Western Netherlands, more water is also needed to combat land subsidence and peat oxidation. In dry periods, this results in additional water shortages.

The effect of underwater drainage and passive level rise in peatland areas on bottlenecks in freshwater supplies 

Raising water levels in peatland areas is an important measure for the achievement of climate objectives. It requires more water from the surface water system. That additional demand comes at the expense of other water users; in dry summers, therefore, water is not always available for the peatland areas. Deltares investigated (Dutch) the implications of raising water levels in peatland areas on a large scale for freshwater supplies.   

Research into water shortages in sandy areas in the Southern, Central and Eastern Netherlands

Since early 2019, several governments and stakeholder organisations have been working with knowledge institutes and consultancies on the study of water shortages This report is a part of that initiative. The research is an analysis of the extent of water shortages, the effects of human interventions and the impact on nature and agriculture. The researchers are also looking at the effectiveness of possible measures. Structural measures are needed to mitigate the effects of water shortages on agriculture, nature and the water system. Read the executive summary (Dutch) or the full report (Dutch).  

Impact modules in the Freshwater Delta Programme

Five impact modules (Dutch) have been developed for the purposes of making assessments on an economic basis. The modules formulate the impact of water shortages and freshwater measures on hydrology as an economic impact on society. The modules link up in technical terms with the National Water Model, which calculates current and future drought risk, and the benefits of freshwater measures.  

Resilient in a changing world

The objective of the Freshwater Delta Programme is to achieve resilience to freshwater shortages by 2050. The definition of ‘resilience’ varies considerably depending upon the region and water-dependent sector. The transition consultancy DRIFT conducted an exploratory study in late 2021 to further clarify this concept. In the context of the Delta Programme, they identified three types of ‘resilient capacity’ that must be addressed in a coordinated way: robust capacity (absorbing shocks in the short term), adaptive capacity (coping with recurrent stress in the medium term) and transformative capacity (preparing for uncertain impacts in the long term). A two-year process was launched in 2022 to formulate the goal of the Freshwater Delta Programme in more concrete terms.

Exploration of promising measures for water availability in the Meuse

This report describes the results of a more in-depth approach to the measures identified in the context of improving water availability in the Meuse. The list of measures (Dutch) was compiled in a series of meetings of the Meuse Pilot working group in which all water management authorities and relevant stakeholders were represented.