Water stress
Water stress refers to a condition where the demand for water exceeds the available supply of water with a good and sufficient quality, regardless of water availability levels. Drought is a natural phenomenon characterised by a prolonged period of below-average water availability and/or above-average evapotranspiration. Water shortage refers to a temporary and acute condition that arises when water demand significantly exceeds the available supply due to a sudden reduction in water availability, typically triggered by a drought or other climatic extreme.
The page on drought will provide more information on the definition of a drought event, trends and projections from climate change, policies and regulations, insurance coverage and a methodological framework for risk assessments.
| Drought | Water stress | Water shortage |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | Long-term (structural) | Short-term |
| Mainly natural (meteorological, hydrological), supply-driven | Anthropogenic, demand-driven | Combination of natural and anthropogenic factors |
|
Low precipitation, high evapotranspiration, low river flows, low groundwater levels |
Structural situation where water consumption is close to water availability | Imbalance between high water consumption and low availability, causing negative impacts |
Water demand
The water demand in the Netherlands is mostly driven by the energy sector, followed by industrial, drinking water and agricultural water use. Most of the water used for energy and production is non-consumptive use, while drinking water and agricultural use are consumptive and thus lost to other users. It is expected that all these sectors will experience an increase in water demand due to increasing temperature and population growth.
