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Water extraction and water consumption in the Netherlands, 1976-1996

Extractiontotal1)groundwatersurface
   water
    
 million m3 
197613 3731 30112 072
198114 8111 06813 743
198614 5271 17713 350
199112 5591 09711 462
19969 7781 0248 754
    
Specification 1996   
Water companies 1 267814453
Industry and refineries 2)2 3152092 106
Electricity plants6 19616 194
Other businesses and ...
families   
    
Consumptiontotal1)groundsurfacetap of which for
  waterwaterwatercooling
      
      
 million m3    
197613 40543811 8521 115 12 032
198114 83035713 4211 052 13 258
198614 54337213 0001 171 13 109
199112 57625511 0261 295 11 083
19969 8102108 3001 2998 274
      
Specification 1996     
Water companies 520052-
Industry and refineries 2)2 5292092 1062142 104
Electricity plants6 19916 19436 170
Other businesses and 1 030001 030-
families     
      
Source: CBS.   CBS/EDC/Oct02
1) Excluding extraction of groundwater and surface water by agriculture and horticulture.
2) Including mining and quarrying.

Developments in water extraction and consumption


Since the start of the 1980s, total extraction and total water consumption in the Netherlands have been falling. The fall in water consumption is mainly the result of the more efficient use of cooling water by industry and energy companies. Surface water is the main source for industry and energy companies; the drinking water companies, by contrast, mainly extract groundwater.
Electricity companies are the largest consumers of water by far. In 1996, approximately three-quarters of all water consumed went on water for cooling purposes in this sector. Households are the largest consumers of drinking water. As a result of water-saving measures, the consumption of tap water by households started to fall in the mid-1990s.

Relevance


Extracting groundwater can have such an effect on the local water table that desiccation results. During warmer periods, discharges of cooling water can have a negative effect on the oxygenation conditions of the surface water, because less oxygen is dissolved in warm water. Leaks, for example, can also result in various pollutants being discharged with the cooling water.

Technical note


For the period in question, total water consumption slightly exceeds extraction. This is mainly due to imports of tap water. The table does not include data on the extraction of groundwater and surface water by the agricultural sector (irrigation for arable crops and horticulture under glass). These data can be found at water consumption in agriculture and horticulture.

References


  • CBS (1998). Watervoorziening van de industrie en elektriciteitscentrales 1996. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
  • CBS (2002). Statline. Openbare watervoorziening. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium


Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium


  • More information about water supplies can be found on Statline of Statistics Netherlands.
This page was last changed on November 18, 2005  (version 01).