In its advisory report "Good Water, Good Policy", presented to Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management on 11 May 2023, the Rli concludes that current and planned policies to achieve healthy water systems and their implementation are inadequate and do not fully follow through into all policy areas affecting water systems. Additional measures are needed and the effectiveness of all the measures should be assessed to allow timely adjustments to be made if necessary.
We can no longer afford to allow a discretionary approach in this regard. For example, general rules on fertilisers, plant protection products and the discharge of hazardous substances should be tightened up. Water boards should also be required to upgrade sewage treatment plants. In addition, the Rli recommends that all groundwater and surface water abstractions in areas at risk of water shortage should be made subject to licensing. All these measures must be introduced quickly.
Read the full press release here
Learn more about the advisory report: ‘Good Water, Good Policy’ here
For more information about the advisory report, please contact project leader Nicole van Buren at nicole.van.buren@rli.nl, +31 (0)6 1017 2005.