Vitens and the province of Overijssel have been discussing this for some time. There is contact with the provincial government about this every other week, says Jelle Hannema, chairman of the board at the water company.
Vulnerable nature reserves
The extraction of large amounts of water from deep soil layers can affect the groundwater level. And that causes drought, which can damage vulnerable nature areas in Salland and Twente.
Permits that Vitens has, therefore, cannot always be fully utilized. Raising the maximum capacity sometimes violates rules that are intended to protect vulnerable natural areas.
Vitens therefore wants to find out together with the province where the rules and permits can be adjusted. This is not an easy task, but it is the fastest way to combat the impending shortage of drinking water. The water boards and municipalities will also be involved in the discussions.
Out of the tap within 24 hours
The water that comes out of the tap was extracted from the ground less than 24 hours ago. The water cannot be stored much longer. There is then a risk of contamination. For that reason, expanding storage capacity is not an option.
The best solution would be to allocate more water catchment areas. But this is met with resistance from farmers and municipalities, among others. Special protection applies to such an area. It can take up to ten years before a new water extraction location is operational. This is partly due to objection procedures that must first be completed.
