Overview
- Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland has the largest precipitation deficit in the country at about 315 mm and has closed sluices and banned use of surface water for irrigation to conserve remaining fresh water.
- Delfland officials say Rhine inflow at Lobith is about 640 m³/s, far below the roughly 1,850 m³/s normal for this time of year, sharply reducing water available to top up canals and reserves.
- Recent dike inspections showed further deterioration of peaty dikes, and Delfland warned that worsening conditions could threaten the safety of roughly 1.25 million residents by reducing lateral water pressure that helps hold dikes in place.
- To protect strategic freshwater reserves and maintain supplies for essential uses, Delfland and horticulture groups are jointly exploring options including tanker deliveries, a temporary desalination unit and extra purification of treated wastewater for non-drinking uses.
- Regional coordination continues through RDO‑Noord and Rijkswaterstaat, which apply the formal priority scheme that puts dike safety and basic services first while monitoring IJsselmeer and Markermeer levels for possible redistribution of water.