Drinking water consumption in Flanders reaches 20-year low
Drinking water consumption in Flanders is at its lowest level in 20 years, the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) announced on Wednesday.
The VMM's annual drinking water analysis, which includes key figures on water production and supply in Flanders, shows that drinking water consumption in the region in 2023 was at its lowest level in 20 years.
According to the report, 334.4 million m³ of drinking water was delivered to the distribution network last year, compared to 388.7 million m³ 20 years ago. This includes both household consumption and non-household consumption, such as by industry.
Fewer leaks
One reason for the decrease could be that Flemish water companies are losing less and less water through leaks. In 2019, an estimated 69.1 million m³ was lost, compared to 52.4 million m³ in 2023.
But household consumption has also fallen sharply, according to the VMM. In 2023, a Fleming consumed an average of 80.8 litres of drinking water per day, about 10 litres less than a decade ago.
In Flanders, drinking water is extracted from groundwater or surface water. 47.4 percent of drinking water comes from groundwater and 52.6 percent from surface water, such as rivers and watercourses. The production of surface water has decreased significantly, from 201.5 million m³ in 2021 to 184.4 million m³ in 2023.
#FlandersNewsService | PHOTO © Fred TANNEAU / AFP
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