Belgium faces driest period in decades as water supply concerns grow

BRUSSELS — Belgium is experiencing its driest period in decades, with prolonged rainfall shortages raising concerns over drinking water production, particularly in Brussels, according to the Royal Meteorological Institute (KMI).Around 80% of the country is affected by a significant precipitation deficit, KMI meteorologist Pascal Mormal told public broadcaster VRT on Wednesday.The situation is particularly severe in southern Belgium, while parts of West Flanders and Limburg have recorded rainfall levels closer to normal.In Uccle, a Brussels municipality where KMI operates a long-term observation station, only around 21 to 22 millimeters of rain is expected this month, compared with a normal monthly average of about 65 millimeters.Mormal said no substantial rainfall was expected in the short term, with significant precipitation potentially not arriving until November.“For such a long, uninterrupted period of drought, we have to go all the way back to the 1970s,” Mormal said.He said the current conditions were comparable to the drought of 2018 and could worsen if the lack of rainfall persists.The prolonged dry spell is also putting pressure on drinking water production.Vivaqua, which supplies drinking water to Brussels and several municipalities in Wallonia and Flanders, may have to further reduce water extraction at its Profondeville facility along the Meuse River.The facility accounts for around 30% of Vivaqua’s water supply.The drought is also affecting municipalities across Wallonia, where restrictions on drinking water consumption are currently in place in 17 municipalities.Tanker trucks have been deployed in Libramont, in Luxembourg province, to help secure local water supplies.In Flanders, authorities have maintained a code-yellow drought alert, calling for increased vigilance without imposing additional measures.Meteorologists expect wetter conditions in November and December, but officials warned that prolonged and steady rainfall will be needed to replenish depleted water resources.Heavy downpours alone may not be enough, as large amounts of water can quickly run off rather than replenish groundwater and other reserves.