A prolonged drought has caused water levels in various catchment areas of Flemish Brabant to drop further, prompting provincial governor Jan Spooren to impose a new temporary water-pumping ban starting Saturday, 23 August.
The measure aims to protect the ecological health of watercourses. During the ban, extracting water from non-navigable streams and public ditches in the affected regions is prohibited.
Exceptions apply in areas where water levels remain relatively stable. Farmers can still use water for livestock, and withdrawals from navigable waterways remain permitted. Some companies are also providing process water to assist farmers in urgent need.
Governor Spooren urges residents to use water wisely. "We strongly ask everyone not to waste water and to strictly adhere to the pumping ban. Only by working together can we mitigate the impact of this persistent drought," he said.
The ban will remain in place until water levels recover sufficiently. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and will adjust the measures as soon as it is deemed appropriate.
A map identifying the affected areas, where ecological minimum flow rates have been exceeded, has been made available.
