A daytime restriction on pulling water from regional canals, ditches, and rivers takes effect on Friday, August 14, as persistent heat and low rainfall continue to drain supply levels.
The measure covers the entire domain of the Waterschap Amstel, Gooi en Vecht, including Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Hilversum.
Under the new rules, residents and businesses cannot extract surface water for irrigation between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. The daytime restriction applies directly to watering home gardens, commercial agricultural crops, and municipal sports grounds.
Exceptions and environmental protection
Official exceptions remain in place for essential services, including emergency firefighting, maintaining public green spaces, and providing drinking water for livestock. Water management structures such as locks and bridges are also exempt from the restrictions.
Regional water officials note that daytime extraction restrictions are rare, but mandatory to keep dikes secure and prevent long-term environmental damage.
This step follows earlier regional responses to dry weather, such as when the water board installed pumps and closed locks in nearby Muiden and Weesp to protect local freshwater levels.
Fire risks and park restrictions
Drought conditions have also prompted safety changes within local recreational spaces. The regional emergency services recently elevated the fire risk level, leading to an immediate ban on all outdoor barbecuing in the Amsterdamse Bos.
National monitoring by Rijkswaterstaat indicates that river flows, particularly along the Rhine, are near historical lows.
Experts predict the regional precipitation deficit could soon top 300 millimeters, with low river levels potentially persisting into December even if wetter weather arrives later this autumn.
Tap water remains safe
Despite the environmental pressure on natural surface water, national authorities confirmed that municipal drinking water supplies remain stable and fully monitored.
