Groundwater levels have risen in many parts of Flanders, the Flemish Environment Agency (Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij – VMM) announced on its website.
After five months of drought, July saw average rainfall, and now, in early August, less than half (45%) of the measurement sites in Flanders register “low to very low” levels. One third show “normal” levels, while 23% have “high to very high” groundwater levels.
Significant regional differences persist across Flanders. In the west and north, conditions remain “low to very low” for this time of year, according to the VMM. In the east, the situation is more varied, with groundwater levels ranging from low to high.
Non-navigable waterways have also seen increased flow rates due to July’s rainfall. In 69% of measurement stations, flow rates are “normal” for this time of year—a notable rise from 35% last month. Nearly a quarter (23%) of stations report flows as “low to very low,” down from 65% last month, while 8% show “high to very high” flow rates.
In July, the Royal Meteorological Institute (IRM) recorded 80.6 mm of rain in Uccle, approximately 5% more than the average. Meanwhile, VMM’s rainfall network reported an average total of 68.7 mm, which is nearly 10% below expectations for July.
