Water consumption by Dutch industry, 1976-2001
In order to reduce desiccation, groundwater extraction continues to be reduced. Three-quarters of water use is for cooling purposes.
| Groundwater | Surface water | |||
| total | of which for cooling | total | of which for cooling | |
| million m3 | ||||
| 1976 | 433 | 252 | 2 987 | 2 895 |
| 1981 | 309 | 179 | 3 328 | 3 205 |
| 1986 | 318 | 185 | 3 800 | 3 666 |
| 1991 | 253 | 134 | 2 640 | 2 496 |
| 1996 | 209 | 90 | 2 106 | 1 966 |
| 2001 | 164 | 78 | 2 796 | 2 757 |
| Breakdown for 2001 | ||||
| Food products, beverages and tobacco products | 73 | 25 | 120 | 112 |
| Paper products and printing industries | 17 | 0 | 55 | 37 |
| Refineries | 0 | 0 | 1 038 | 1 038 |
| Chemical industry | 27 | 17 | 1 344 | 1 336 |
| Building materials | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Source: CBS (2003). | CBS/EDC/Sep03/0018 | |||
| Drinking water | Water from | Total | ||
| total | of which for cooling | other companies | water consumption | |
| million m3 | ||||
| 1976 | 200 | 54 | . | 3 621 |
| 1981 | 171 | 47 | . | 3 807 |
| 1986 | 191 | 51 | . | 4 309 |
| 1991 | 222 | 65 | . | 3 115 |
| 1996 | 214 | 49 | . | 2 529 |
| 2001 | 215 | 70 | 132 | 3 307 |
| Breakdown for 2001 | ||||
| Food products, beverages and tobacco products | 54 | 3 | 1 | 249 |
| Paper products and printing industries | 7 | 0 | 1 | 81 |
| Refineries | 27 | 6 | -1 | 1 065 |
| Chemical industry | 71 | 24 | 97 | 1 539 |
| Building materials | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Source: CBS (2003). | CBS/EDC/Sep03/0018 | |||
Changes in groundwater abstraction
An indirect consequence of the introduction of the Pollution of Surface Waters Act in 1970 was the considerable reduction in water abstraction by industry. From 1980 onwards, a stricter groundwater policy was implemented to tackle desiccation. This led to a fall in groundwater abstraction.
Most water used as cooling water
An increase in the consumption of cooling water meant that groundwater abstraction in 2001 was higher than in 1996. Over 85% of water use is for cooling purposes, mainly in the chemical industry and refineries. This water is mostly abstracted from surface water.
References
- CBS (2003). Statline. Watervoorziening van industrie, delfstoffenwinning en elektriciteitscentrales. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Water extraction and water consumption in the Netherlands, 1976-1996
- Guide to environmental pressure from Industry
- Guide to 'Desiccation' section
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More data about the consumption of water can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
