The drought has more consequences. For example, the water in the rivers in the Netherlands is currently very low. This causes problems for inland skippers and there is also a prohibition on water abstraction in some parts of the Netherlands. In Utrecht, arable farmers and fruit growers are still allowed to spray with surface water.
Marja Reijnders of the Vallei & Veluwe Water Board: “The fruit growers in the province of Utrecht are between the green lines on our overview map. They are fed from the Lower Rhine. Even though it has slightly less water, it is stowed by Rijkswaterstaat. That is why the situation in Utrecht is still stable. In Gelderland it is very different: in the IJssel the water is now so low that the pumping station will start gasping for air. That is where the withdrawal ban will be extended.”