Water and groundwater levels in Flanders continue to drop due to prolonged drought
June marked the fifth consecutive dry month in Flanders, leading to further declines in both surface water and groundwater levels. This was confirmed in the latest bulletin published on Thursday by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).
According to the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI), there was just 31.6mm of rainfall in June at its observatory in Uccle, which is only 45 per cent of the monthly average of 70.8mm. Similar deficits were observed across Flanders, although the VMM’s rain gauge network recorded a slightly more favourable regional average of 42.1mm, or 59 per cent of the climatological norm.
Significant deficits
The ongoing drought has pushed the precipitation deficit since April to between 120 and 150mm across most of Flanders, an unusually high shortfall for this time of year. In the Dender basin, the deficit has reached 183mm.
Groundwater levels continue to feel the impact. As of 30 June, 63 per cent of monitored sites showed low to very low groundwater levels for the season, with 98 per cent of locations registering a decline compared to the previous month.
Critically low levels
Watercourses are also under pressure. Low to very low discharges were measured at 65 per cent of monitoring points, with six sites recording their lowest values since measurements began.
Particularly low levels were observed in the IJzer, Brugse Polders, Dender and Dijle basins, while the Nete basin is nearing a historic minimum. Only the Leie basin recorded relatively higher levels compared to the rest of Flanders.
Without significant rainfall in the coming weeks, groundwater levels and river discharges are expected to stay low to very low for this time of year.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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