Sixty Dutch groups urge mandatory drinking water-saving rules in new homes

Sixty organizations are urging the Dutch government to adopt binding rules to reduce drinking water use in new and renovated homes. The group warns of “drinking water congestion” as pressure on supply systems grows.

The call was delivered through a petition presented to the Tweede Kamer and signed by municipalities, provinces, water boards, and water and construction companies. The coalition says voluntary efforts are no longer sufficient to address rising demand.

The Dutch government aims to reduce average water use to 100 liters per person per day by 2035. Current use is about 118 liters per person per day, according to drinking water companies.

The organizations say they want to first test water-saving technologies in a limited number of neighborhoods before turning them into national legislation.

As a possible solution, Martijn Dadema (Water, GroenLinks) pointed to a policy idea in which toilets in new buildings would be flushed using rainwater or shower water instead of drinking water. “We are very explicitly asking: no more voluntary measures, no more just ads telling people to take shorter showers, but also simply making it part of the law,” Dadema told ANP.

In a warning issued at the end of April, the Dutch Council for the Environment and Infrastructure said future drinking water availability is coming under serious pressure due to climate change, pollution, and population and economic growth.