The advice was presented to Minister Vincent Karremans of Infrastructure and Water Management. Professor of Spatial Economics Erik Verhoef of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a member of the Rli chaired the committee that prepared the advisory.
According to the council, drinking water supplies are under pressure from climate change, pollution and a growing population. The Dutch are used to drinking water of high quality at low cost, but according to the advisory, this cannot be taken for granted in the future. To prevent problems, intervention in the freshwater system and more space for drinking water extraction are needed now. Governments must also take much more decisive action, according to the council.
Pollution and drought put pressure on system
The demand for drinking water continues to rise due to economic growth and population growth. At the same time, the freshwater system - consisting of groundwater, ditches, rivers and lakes - is becoming increasingly polluted, due in part to PFAS and pesticides. On top of that, climate change is causing more frequent droughts, resulting in less water available.
According to the council, addressing these problems at the source is inevitable. That means: reducing pollution and retaining water better in the system. According to the council, this task is too big for water companies alone; cooperation with the national government and other authorities is necessary.
National government must take the lead
The council believes that the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management should take the lead in a national drinking water strategy. This should define where in the Netherlands space is reserved for drinking water extraction and how governments and companies cooperate and invest.
This approach must not be non-committal. The council recommends that the national government also participate financially in drinking water companies. In this way, the national government can contribute to the necessary investments and have more control over drinking water supply throughout the country.
Drinking water more expensive to combat waste
It is striking that the Dutch use a relatively large amount of drinking water while the price is low. Attempts to reduce consumption have so far had little effect. Therefore, the council advocates fairer pricing. Drinking water should be charged more according to consumption, with large-scale users paying a higher rate. In this way investments can be financed and more economical use can be encouraged.
"Our advice is clear: without quick and firm measures, the availability of drinking water in the Netherlands will be endangered," Verhoef said.
Read more on the website of the Raad voor de leefomgeving en infrastructuur