Delfland water board warns of rising dike cracks amid severe drought

Inspectors of the Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland reported about 180 cracks in the region’s dikes this week, up from roughly 30 in the previous inspection round. Eighteen of those cracks are classified as critical, prompting close monitoring but no emergency repairs. The water board has imposed a ban on extracting surface water and is storing large volumes of fresh water in a nature reserve and a polder to protect the dikes. It is also evaluating the use of treated wastewater or brackish water to maintain water pressure. Officials stress that prolonged dryness weakens peat dikes, increasing the risk of leaks and landslides that could endanger the safety of 1.25 million residents across municipalities such as The Hague, Rotterdam and surrounding areas.