Abstract

The use of 'early warning systems' at groundwater abstractions for drinking water can provide improved protection against the risk of pollution. This is the conclusion drawn by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) based on an exploratory study carried out by order of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (I&M). Early warnings of potential risks will enable stakeholders (municipalities, provinces and water companies) to take the actions needed to avoid further spread of the pollution.
An 'early warning system' would complement the current 'drinking water protection file' in which risks for water quality at an abstraction site are integrally assessed. The RIVM recommends designing early warning systems with a three-pillar structure as there are two other aspects, in addition to monitoring water quality, relevant to the protection of groundwater abstractions. Pressure on preserving public land for the exploration of groundwater abstraction and the objectives of the Water Framework Directive make it important to be able to assess risks before the groundwater is polluted. Therefore, the aim of the second pillar of the system is to monitor whether the provincial groundwater protection policy is implemented in local (municipal) spatial plans and if so, to what length. The third pillar focuses on providing an overview of the emissions/substances released as a result of activities carried out in the vicinity of an abstraction which may pollute the groundwater.