Water use within the Dutch economy; Environmental accounts
| Waterusers | Periods | Tap water Total use of tap water (mln m3) | Tap water Use of drinking water (mln m3) | Tap water Use of industrial water (mln m3) | Tap water Use of industrial water for cooling (mln m3) | Tap water Other use of industrial water (mln m3) | Groundwater Total use of groundwater (mln m3) | Groundwater Use of groundwater for cooling (mln m3) | Groundwater Other use of groundwater (mln m3) | Surface water Total use of surface water (mln m3) | Surface water Total use of fresh surface water (mln m3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Dutch economy | 2022* | . | 1,116.7 | . | . | . | 1,141.2 | 59.9 | 1,081.3 | 13,421.2 | 7,093.0 |
| Source: CBS. | |||||||||||
Table explanation
This table presents the water accounts, being part of the environmental accounts compiled by Statistics Netherlands annually. This Water Accounting table includes the (physical) water use by the Dutch economy. A distinction is made between the use of tap water, use and abstraction (withdrawal) of groundwater and of surface water. The water used is allocated to the industries and households. Alternatively, tables selections can be made that show break down by economic activity (including households), by water type and annual use. Values are shown in million cubic meters of water (mln m3).
With tap water, a distinction is made between tap water of drinking water quality and industrial water. Industrial water is tap water with a less quality than drinking water, or sometimes with a better quality, like demineralized water. This industrial water is mainly used by the industry and electricity producers. For surface water a distinction is made between fresh surface water and seawater. Within all water types (except drinking water) a distinction is made between use for cooling and use for other purposes. The data are derived from a diverse set of sources, more about those sources can be found in chapter 4.
Data in the environmental accounts directly correspond to the economic data in the national accounts, that allows assessment of the impact of the economic activities of the Netherlands for the use of water taken from the natural environment in quantitative terms. From the water accounts bills, environmental indicators can be derived. As an example the water use intensity for the different types can be determined for the Netherlands as a whole or for the break down by industry.
Data available from: 2003
Status of the figures:
The data for the respective years in the full time series in this table are final and the last three years are provisional. The entire time series from 2003 onwards, if necessary, is to be adjusted to reflect the updated source information.
Changes as of September 2024: In the update for the year 2022, the detail of the water use has been changed. Industrial water, fresh surface water and salt surface water, have now been seperated into use for cooling and other use. Part of the tapwater (drinking water and industrial water) data is not yet available for the year 2022. The missing values are specified as dots and will be updated in the next year.
When will new figures be published?
The next publication will be in August 2025.
Description topics
- Tap water
- Tap water is purified or treated groundwater or surface water and transported through a network of pipes. Tap water can be either of drinking water quality (drinking water) or can be industrial water, having a lesser or better quality than drinking water.
- Total use of tap water
- Total tap water is the summation of drinking water and industrial water.
- Use of drinking water
- Drinking water is received and produced by the water supply companies. This is either purified groundwater or surface water being transported through a network of pipes or (tap) water network.
- Use of industrial water
- Industrial water is of lesser or better quality than drinking water.
- Use of industrial water for cooling
- Use of industrial water for cooling purposes.
- Other use of industrial water
- Use of industrial water for purposes other than cooling.
- Groundwater
- Use of water pumped or otherwise abstracted from underground formations. This may be fresh water, but can also be brackish or salt water.
- Total use of groundwater
- Use of water pumped or otherwise abstracted from underground formations. This may be fresh water, but can also be brackish or salt water.
- Use of groundwater for cooling
- Use of abstracted groundwater for cooling purposes.
- Other use of groundwater
- Use of abstracted groundwater for purposes other than cooling.
- Surface water
- Use of water abstracted from inland waters such as rivers, lakes, canals (except for groundwater), transitional waters, coastal waters, and, in respect of the chemical status, also should include territorial waters (i.e. the sea).
- Total use of surface water
- Use of water abstracted from inland waters such as rivers, lakes, canals (except for groundwater), transitional waters, coastal waters, and, in respect of the chemical status, also should include territorial waters (i.e. the sea).
- Total use of fresh surface water
- Use of fresh surface water such as rivers and lakes.