Dutch water boards activate pump and impose extraction ban to combat salinisation

In the Netherlands, water authority De Stichtse Rijnlanden has re‑opened the De Aanvoerder pump to move fresh water from the Amsterdam‑Rhine Canal up the Leidse Rijn, aiming to prevent salinisation of western coastal areas amid a hot, dry summer and low river inflows. The operation has halted navigation on a 10‑km stretch of the Leidse Rijn until the pump can be shut down.

Separately, the Vallei en Veluwe water board announced a surface‑water extraction ban effective 12 June 2026 for areas without alternative water supplies, restricting the use of canal and ditch water for irrigation, industry or sports fields. The ban, which will be reviewed continuously, is intended to protect water levels, water quality and ecosystems against the ongoing drought.