The Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (Christian democrat) has called on Flemings not to waste water as the lack of rainfall in recent months is being felt more and more in our region. Mr Brouns’ call to not waste water comes after a marked increase in the amount of tap water used in Flanders during last weekend.
According to the water companies, during last weekend 17% more water than average was consumed in Flanders as a whole. The increase in consumption was highest in central areas (20%) and most modest in the east of the region (between 12% and 14%).
Despite several months of below average rainfall, the Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns believes there is no reason to panic at this stage: "The drinking water supply is secure and there will be no shortage in the short term. Nevertheless, these figures show that we need to be vigilant. Especially with a drought on the horizon, it's important that we're already aware of how we're using our water".
Mr Brouns urges Flemings not to water their lawns, to avoid washing their cars and to use rainwater whenever possible. "Every little effort can help prevent a bigger problem from arising. We're going to face more prolonged periods of drought in the future, so we need to adopt a new mindset."