Barely any Flemish companies interested in limiting water usage

Only 30 companies in Flanders have requested a free analysis of their water usage in the past six months, revealed politician Mieke Schauvliege on Thursday. "It should be a priority for the government to save water, now that water is becoming increasingly precious," she said in a press release.

Flemish Economy minister Jo Brouns appealed in February to companies consuming 500 cubic metres or more of water annually. They could have their water consumption analysed free of charge, to efficiently reduce it.

But most companies do not seem interested in curbing their water usage. Six months after the appeal, only 13 scans were carried out, while 17 more are planned. The recommendations based on the analyses are also optional, which means that companies can ignore them if they so choose.

The latest drinking water statistics show that action is needed, Schauvliege says. Figures for 2020 and 2021 show that despite the efforts of the Flemish government to reduce water consumption, drinking water consumption continues to rise.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}