Local and provincial authorities, drinking water supply companies and water resource managers authority are making progress with the assessment of the current and future risks for the quality of extracted water in drinking water protection files. However, there is a risk that different acts, such as the Drinking Water Act and the Soil Protection Act, might prescribe contradictory measures in some cases. This is one of the conclusions of an evaluation by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
Drinking water protection files provide knowledge and enable to take adequate and timely measures. Drinking water protection files also clarify which authority (local, regional or national) should act when measures need to be taken.
Conflicting acts may lead to different views regarding the protection of drinking water resources. Furthermore, the environmental protection policy is often insufficiently anchored in local spatial plans. Therefore, there could be a lack of focus on the adequate protection of drinking water resources when developing new spatial planning activities.
Drinking water Memorandum
The results of the evaluation can be incorporated in the upcoming Dutch Drinking Water Memorandum or as national input into the River Basin Management Plans for the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).