Conserving water resources

The supply of groundwater and surface water is not endless, which means that there are limits to the amount of water that can be withdrawn from the environment. Therefore, the management of water resources, which are vital for sustaining life, must be tackled in an appropriate manner. Within the framework of the INTERREG II programme, nine partners from four different provinces in the Netherlands (Northern Brabant and Dutch Limburg) and Belgium (the Provinces of Antwerp and Limburg) joined forces to take measures to improve water management. Some of the key actions undertaken included examining the potential for retaining water for longer periods on farmland, so as to raise the groundwater level, and investigating measures to help farmers and market gardeners use less water. Between 1998 and 2001, several such actions were undertaken. Canals and ditches in the eligible areas were equipped with spillways to prevent water from flowing to the sea (2000 spillways/140 000 ha) and, in terms of promoting a more responsible use of water, the reliability and feasibility of various sprinkling systems were tested. Tests on nutrient elements were also carried out in order to improve the quality of the groundwater. At 80 different farms and market gardening companies, the existing methods for calculating the amount of water to be sprinkled on the crops were further developed and refined. These measures have been successful in helping to improve water conservation and have also had a positive impact on flora and fauna. Thanks to the work of the project, farmers and market gardeners are now using less water, which is good for both farming and the environment.