Use of space for public water supplies in the Netherlands, 1995
Water protection areas have been designated in order to safeguard water supplies. These areas, and their location in the Netherlands, are shown in a map.
No change in land use for water supplies
An essential use of space by the Water supply target sector consists of the water protection areas designated by provincial authorities. They account for approximately 1,450 km2. In the province of Limburg, a relatively large proportion of the surface area is set aside for this purpose (10%); in Groningen, this figure is slightly more than 1%. A monitoring study performed in 1998 showed only marginal changes in the situation since 1995.
A tendency has become apparent in recent years towards an emphasis on protection in more of the recharge areas for water extraction.
Policy for the prevention of pollution
In groundwater protection areas, human activity is restricted in order to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. These restrictions have been set out in regulations linked to groundwater protection plans. Some components of the IPO-modelverordening (the model regulations of the Dutch Association of Provincial Authorities) have been implemented differently, in part because of specific regional and local problems.
To prevent contamination, certain restrictions have also been imposed in a number of cases on land use in catchment areas for surface waters (in particular regional bodies of water) used for supplying tap water.
There is no specific policy for recharge areas.
Direct and indirect land use for public water supplies
A distinction can be made between the direct and indirect use of space for public water supplies. Examples of the direct use of space are the space accounted for by various buildings, installations and facilities, such as the treatment plants and reservoirs. The environmental zoning of water protection areas generally includes at least two types of zoning. The strictest requirements apply to the water catchment areas, which are generally the property of water companies. Areas of this kind are located in the immediate vicinity of abstraction wells. In the wider area around the abstraction wells, less stringent rules apply to various features. A zone of this kind can therefore be described as an indirect use of space.
When determining the zones, provincial authorities generally work on the basis of the maximum amount of groundwater to be extracted as stated in the permit.
If, in view of the hydrological preconditions, there is no need for a protection area around an abstraction well, most provincial authorities will designate a 'no-drilling' zone.
The surface area of a site where an infiltration system (including an open system) is being applied cannot automatically be considered a direct and/or indirect use of space if the stored water takes up a considerably larger area. Given the vulnerability of these areas, they must be protected.
Recharge areas around groundwater abstraction wells for public water supplies are the areas from where the wells take their water. The sources for the zones saturated with groundwater are the precipitation that infiltrates from the surface and water that infiltrates from ditches, lakes, canals and rivers.
References
- Provincial groundwater protection plans.
- Kovar, K., G.J.M. Uffink, M.J.H. Pastoors (1996). Evaluation of the Netherlands Groundwater Model, LGM, for calculating pathlines, travel times and concentration at abstraction wells. RIVM (report no. 703 717 001), Bilthoven.
- Kovar, K., M.J.H. Pastoors, A. Tiktak and F.W. van Gaalen (1998). Application of the Netherlands Groundwater Model for calculating concentration of nitrate and pesticides at abstraction wells in sandy soil areas of the Netherlands. RIVM (report no. 703 717 002), Bilthoven.
- Kovar, K., M.J.H. Pastoors, J.H.C. Mülschlegel and S.P.J. van Ooijen (2001). Toepassing van het Landelijk grondwatermodel, LGM, voor berekening van ruwwaterconcentraties op een aantal locaties van oevergrondwaterwinningen in Nederland. RIVM (report no. 703 717 008), Bilthoven.
