All work needs to be completed by 2027 on one-third of Flemish waterways to make them compliant with European standards, according to Environment Zuhal Demir’s updated river basin management plans.
Thus far, only one of the 195 Flemish waterways meets the European standard. In principle, all waterways should be compliant by 2027, but that is no longer feasible.
“As with nitrogen, we are starting with a big backlog in Flanders, but we are going to do the most we can,” Demir said.
The new river basin management plans should enable one in three waterways to be made compliant. They came under public scrutiny last year and were met with a wave of criticism from environmental groups. Since then, a few adjustments have been made, says the Flemish Environmental Agency.
For example, ambition levels were raised for the Ghent inland waterways and the Ghent-Ostend Canal. Actions from the Flemish Blue Deal, the plan against water scarcity, were also included. This has to do, for example, with water-softening projects.
All this should result, in 8 percent of the waterways, in the implementation of the work required to achieve good quality and have flora and fauna restored.
For 25 percent of the remaining waterways, work will already have been completed but more time will be needed for the natural recovery of the fauna and flora.
