This page provides an overview of news about soil and water.

An animation about the monitoring programme of the Dutch minerals policy, its history and its results.

During the bathing season, official swimming locations are checked for bathing water quality. In the Netherlands, the bathing season runs from 1 May to 1 October. There are no inspections of bathing water quality outside the bathing season.

Clean water contributes to a healthy life. For instance, clean drinking water contributes to a healthy diet. In the Netherlands, tap water is so clean and of such high quality that you can actually drink it straight from the tap without worrying about quality or safety. RIVM works closely together with drinking water companies and government authorities to provide clean, healthy drinking water for everyone.

RIVM, working in collaboration with other institutes, has mapped out the effects of climate change on drinking water supply. This detailed assessment has been included in the National Adaptation Strategy (2016).

Drinking water companies perform tests and measurements to safeguard the quality of drinking water. The quality requirements which drinking water has to meet have been documented in the Dutch Drinking Water Decree.

RIVM has identified the micro-organisms that can make people sick by contact with bathing water and to what extent climate change might have an influence on that risk. Climate factors, such as temperature, UV radiation and precipitation, influence the physiology of pathogens. These climate change factors can cause pathogens to die faster, survive longer, or proliferate more rapidly. This will affect the chance that pathogens will cause diseases when people come into contact with bathing water.

Dealing with water in cities is challenging in many ways. Issues include the collection and drainage of large volumes of water, as well as wastewater collection and treatment. RIVM provides support by assessing the potential health risks of urban water concepts.