This spring 2020 is the warmest in 119 years. This is good news for all the confined families who have enjoyed their garden, but it is bad news for farmers. Water is lacking, tension is rising …
The land is very dry all over the country. There is between 10 and 15 cm of water missing per square meter, for three consecutive summers. “If we have a very dry summer again like last year, there will be restrictions in many Flemish municipalities“, explains Alain Dassargues, professor in hydrology and environment at the University of Liège.”On the Walloon side, it will happen, but later “.
There are actually big differences between Flanders and Wallonia in terms of water supply. In Flanders, 40% of drinking water comes from surface water, which is less available in hot weather because it evaporates more easily. In Wallonia, 80% of our drinking water is drawn underground, and winter has recharged the water tables.
The “water war”?
“Currently, Wallonia supplies water to Flanders and Brussels. The Flemings are trying to increase pumping near the linguistic border to pump the same aquifers as us. It’s normal play. But in the joint management of these aquifers, there can be tensions“.
The Flemish press talks about “water war“, because their agriculture, especially in Campine, is very developed and needs a lot of water for strawberries and tomatoes in particular. In Antwerp, since this Friday, it is forbidden to extract water from rivers Never had this type of decision been made so early in the season.
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