An ongoing drought in the Netherlands is threatening the dykes that protect densely populated areas from flooding. Cracks are appearing across the region, raising concerns among water authorities.
To protect water levels and maintain water safety, authorities have banned the use of fresh water from dykes for irrigation and imposed heavy fines.
The measures have caused panic in Westland, home to the world’s largest greenhouse industry, where hundreds of growers risk losing vegetables and flowers if they cannot secure enough water.
Water authorities have collected fresh water as a backup, but warn that supplies could also run dry if the drought continues. More drastic measures, including the possible use of treated sewage water, may be needed.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports near The Hague.
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