National water shortage officially over but troubles continue

The Netherlands has officially ended its water shortage, but the drought's effects will linger for months, according to the infrastructure ministry. Rainfall and reduced demand have allowed the ministry to move the country from level two to level one on its three-stage water shortage scale, from an actual shortage back to an impending one.

Farmers are irrigating less, crops are being harvested, and cooler weather has decreased evaporation. The weekly government team that addressed the shortage will disband, but the national water distribution committee will continue, and the weekly drought monitor remains active. Despite the downgrade, the Rhine carries only about half its normal water volume for early September, and river levels may remain low until the end of the year.

Groundwater will take even longer to recover. Houseboat owners still stranded on dried-up sections of the Rhine will not see immediate relief, as their homes will not be able to refloat until water levels rise. Shipping faces reduced services and delays at locks, and water abstraction restrictions still apply in the eastern and southern higher sandy soils.

Salinisation of the IJsselmeer, a concern for drinking water suppliers, is being addressed, but some water boards are rolling back restrictions. Drinking water supplies remain secure.